Fergal O'Brien bids to maintain strong Musselburgh strike-rate in Series Final

Go North Sea Pigeon Series Final (A Handicap Hurdle) (Class 2) | 2m1½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Comparing how a trainer's horses fare at different tracks is a key analysis tool for a punter and Fergal O'Brien's forays to Scotland have proved his most prolific.

Scotland's four jumps tracks feature in the top five courses in terms of strike-rate for O'Brien, who is showing a level-stakes profit at each (+£52.04 accumulatively) and an average success rate of 35 per cent.

The sole English venue to feature in O'Brien's top five is Northumberland course Hexham, Britain's sixth most northerly track.

With four wins, four seconds and two thirds from 14 runners at Musselburgh, the trainer's runners seldom return to his Cotswold base without a share of the prize-money.

Byzantine Empire bids to justify the trip in this Go North Series Final and makes plenty of each-way appeal with bookmakers generally offering enhanced place terms.

A half-brother to two Group winners, Byzantine Empire failed to deliver in six starts on the flat for John Gosden but has won three of his last six for O'Brien.

His below-par fifth at Doncaster last time is forgiven as it was his first try on soft ground and the quicker conditions at Musselburgh will be to his advantage.

Veteran Iolani landed the previous running by nine lengths off 5lb lower and is one of three contenders for Dianne Sayer along with The Navigator and Beeno.

Iolani's preparation has been almost a carbon copy of last year and we can safely assume this has been the long-term target.

The ten-year-old returned from four months off a couple of weeks ago to finish midfield in the same handicap hurdle he contested last March, but ran an 8lb better figure on Racing Post Ratings. Don’t be surprised if he goes well again at a price.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Byzantine Empire
The ground will suit him fine and hopefully there's still a bit of mileage in his handicap mark.

Dianne Sayer, trainer of Iolani, Beeno and The Navigator
They all have valid reasons for taking part and my head lass says it's hard to choose between them. Iolani won this race last year and The Navigator was unlucky as he was brought down in the same race when still going well. The Navigator has taken a long time to get over that incident but he seems back to his best now.

Brian Ellison, trainer of The Dancing Poet and Leeswood Lily
Leeswood Lily's jockey thought she didn't stay last time out so she's coming down in trip. The Dancing Poet is consistent and ran well in the qualifying race last time. He should be thereabouts.

Susan Corbett, trainer of Wor Verge
It's a big ask for him but we hope that riding him a bit handier will be a help.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Blooriedotcom, Spark Of Magic and Gemologist
Blooriedotcom has been finding his way back from injury and he did well to finish third in the qualifying race. He'll run well but needs to find a bit more improvement. Spark of Madness will make a cracking two-mile chaser and this is a good race for him to run in. Gemologist's owners were keen to support the race as they are from Musselburgh. She can run off a really low weight as her jockey is able to claim 10lb.
Reporting by Michael Robson

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