Analysis and trainer quotes: lively outsider as Nicky Richards fields handy duo

2.15 Musselburgh
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Nicky Richards and owners Tarzan Bloodstock combine with one of the likely market leaders in this competitive 3m handicap hurdle in the shape of No Regrets, but they also saddle lively outsider Western Rules, who is ridden by promising amateur Lyall Hodgins.

Brian Hughes appears to have had the choice of mounts and is on No Regrets. Hughes partnered No Regrets to a good second at Carlisle last time and has ridden Western Rules on five of his last six outings. He evidently knows both well and there is little doubt No Regrets is improving.

He has recorded progressive Racing Post Ratings on all four outings since the restart, but the handicapper has kept pace and further improvement is needed to defy a 5lb rise in the weights.

Western Rules is going the other way, having been below par on his last two outings, but he is now 4lb lower than when a good fourth in a stronger race at Perth in September and Hodgins has made a fast start to his career. The rider has defied his inexperience to record a winner, two seconds and a third from just 15 rides. That’s a healthy actual/expected (A/E) winners figure of 0.89.

Conor O’Farrell is another rider on a high following his victories on Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher at Aintree on Saturday and on Dino Boy in the Borders National at Kelso on Sunday.

Only Ross Chapman (41) has ridden more jumps winners for Iain Jardine than O’Farrell (16) and the Becher-winning jockey renews his partnership with Weather Front. His mount didn’t appear to stay 3m at Cheltenham last time but this is a sharper track and a significantly weaker race.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Iain Jardine, trainer of Weather Front
He ran well enough at Cheltenham last time and this is a bit easier. He carries top weight dropping down in grade and the track should suit him. He's got to be competitive in a race like this.

James Ewart, trainer of Westland Row
We've lost our way with him a bit since he arrived. It looks like a small field and 2m6f-plus are his bag and we'll aim to drop him out and creep into the race. He certainly has ability and if that works he could run a big race.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Get Out The Gate
He needs good ground and there's not a lot else for him. I'm not sure whether he'll stay this far, but we were delighted with his run last time. We're keen to find out a bit more about him with a view to a spring campaign.

Nicky Richards, trainer of No Regrets and Western Rules
No Regrets has been running well this season and ran a grand race at Carlisle last time. It was probably my fault he got beat and he should have been running over two and a half round there. He was staying on well all the way to the line and three miles round Musselburgh should suit him very well. Western Rules has been running consistently, apart from when getting stuck in the ground at Wetherby last time. The ground should be a bit better and I'm hoping it won't be too soft for either of them.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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