Barrichello's proven stamina may give him the edge in a competitive heat

1.15 Musselburgh
Fitzdares Novices' Limited Handicap Chase | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | RTV

This is as good a novice handicap chase as you could wish to see on a low-key Tuesday and we could witness a real burn-up as the top four in the market have shown a tendency to get on with things.

Excluding second-season novice Fete Champetre, the sole hold-up performer in the line-up and outsider in the betting, the chasing form figures of the other four read 11333132 in a high-quality heat.

Any of these unexposed sorts could rate much higher than we have seen in this sphere and Barrichello, who was sent off a 6-1 chance for the Scottish Champion Hurdle three starts back, has translated his useful hurdles form to fences.

In his two chase runs Barrichello has finished third to the well-treated Thunder Rock and then Harper's Brook – two horses who ran in the Grade 2 Dipper at Cheltenham – and proved two and a half miles was within his range on the second occasion at Bangor on heavy in November.

Donald McCain was back among the winners with a double here on New Year’s Day after a slightly frustrating festive period and Barrichello’s confirmed stamina over two and a half miles might be the difference. He faces three last-time-out winners who are yet to demonstrate that in a truly run race over further than two miles.

Bottomweight Diamond State overcame any soft-ground concerns with a nice performance over two miles here last time, but an extra half-mile might stretch him on similar conditions. Similar comments apply to Parliament Hill, who steps significantly up in trip after scoring over 1m7f at Wetherby in November.

It is the Laura Morgan-trained Notlongtillmay who might represent the biggest threat to Barrichello. Notlongtillmay has progressed on Racing Post Ratings with each run and, unlike the other two last-time-out winners in this field, he bagged his victory on his seasonal return. The expectation is he comes forward for that in his second chase.

Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Laura Morgan, trainer of Notlongtillmay
He's in great form at home and I think he's got a great chance. In the past he bled for Chris Gordon, which was a bit of a worry, but he's never done that for us since he joined the yard. I think the track will suit and the step up in trip to 2m4½f is the ideal distance for him, so we're very hopeful.

Rose Dobbin, trainer of Fete Champetre
We took him out of a race at Newcastle when it went soft last time but we may well give it ago despite it being likely similar conditions as there are so few options. He’s a talented horse and if he handles the bend and the surface he should give a good account.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Diamond State
He’s taken well to fences but is better on good ground than soft so hopefully it’s dried out a bit since Sunday. He loves the track and goes there with a good chance off a low weight.

Reporting by David Milnes

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