Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle – Musselburgh

Musselburgh

16:50

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Date 2026-02-15

Distance 2m3f171y

Class Class 5

Going Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £3,697

Weather Overcast

Temp 2.4°C

Wind 20mph S

Rain 74%

Winning Time 5m 18.23s (slow by 34.23s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Beat The Retreat (IRE) Dominic Hislop · N W Alexander	9/2	Won
2nd	Snow Dragon (IRE) Gregor Walkingshaw · Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	100/30	2.5
3rd	Cher Tara (IRE) Toby McCain-Mitchell · Daragh Bourke	7/1	6
4th	Velvet Vulcan (GB) Ben Smith · R Mike Smith	5/4F	6
5th	National Question (IRE) Joshua Thompson · Adam Nicol	11/2	4.25

Runners (7)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
7	Velvet Vulcan Bay J:Ben Smith(3) T:R Mike Smith	J:Ben Smith(3) T:R Mike Smith	150	t	-46422	81	102	100	5d	—	—	-10	28.8	0.34/1	11/8 42%
Went very close at Ayr the last twice; likely to go up in weights once reassessed
4	Snow Dragon Grey J:Gregor Walkingshaw(10) T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	J:Gregor Walkingshaw(10) T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	158	—	6-3334	89	104	85	19d	—	—	-2	14.8	1.00/1	4/1 20%
Maiden who has consistent form figures this season; reasonably solid
6	National Question Brown J:Joshua Thompson T:Adam Nicol	J:Joshua Thompson T:Adam Nicol	152	p	-51251	83	90	93	21d	—	—	+14	27.8	1.13/1	9/2 18%
Proved suited by 2m4f when scoring at Sedgefield last time; unexposed at this trip
5	Beat The Retreat Bay J:Dominic Hislop(10) T:N W Alexander	J:Dominic Hislop(10) T:N W Alexander	156	tv	-20810	87	100	76	55d	—	—	+6	21.7	1.13/1	9/2 18%
Three-time winner, most recently on penultimate start; inconsistent otherwise
2	Cher Tara Bay J:Toby McCain-Mitchell T:Daragh Bourke	J:Toby McCain-Mitchell T:Daragh Bourke	165	—	639573	96	94	88	31d	—	—	+8	18	2.00/1	8/1 11%
Has shaped with promise in two starts for new yard, third at Newcastle latest
NR	Gemini Man Bay J:William Maggs T:Iain Jardine	J:William Maggs T:Iain Jardine	168	—	269326	99	102	90	15d	—	—	—	17.3	—	—
Went close at Musselburgh on most recent attempt in this grade; that form is solid
NR	Gonnino Chestnut J:Dylan Johnston T:Gary Rutherford	J:Dylan Johnston T:Gary Rutherford	163	—	-24P26	94	99	88	55d	—	—	—	14.8	—	—
Finished behind a couple of today's rivals last time and needs to rebound

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Velvet Vulcan	11/8	5/4	5/4
Snow Dragon	4/1	4/1	4/1
National Question	9/2	9/2	9/2
Beat The Retreat	9/2	9/2	9/2
Cher Tara	8/1	15/2	15/2
Gemini Man	-	-	-
Gonnino	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Velvet Vulcan

28.8

OR: 7.8 Form: 8.5 Odds: 12.5

11/8

2nd

National Question

27.8

OR: 8.3 Form: 15.5 Odds: 4.1

9/2

3rd

Beat The Retreat

21.7

OR: 9.3 Form: 8 Odds: 4.4

9/2

Cher Tara

OR: 11.5 Form: 3.6 Odds: 2.9

8/1

Gemini Man

17.3

OR: 12.3 Form: 5 Odds: 0

—

Snow Dragon

14.8

OR: 9.8 Form: 0 Odds: 5

4/1

Gonnino

14.8

OR: 11 Form: 3.8 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Gemini Man	99	102	90
Cher Tara	96	94	88
Gonnino	94	99	88
Snow Dragon	89	104	85
Beat The Retreat	87	100	76
National Question	83	90	93
Velvet Vulcan	81	102	100

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Velvet Vulcan	5d ago	Quick return
Gemini Man	15d ago	Fit
Snow Dragon	19d ago	Fit
National Question	21d ago	Fit
Cher Tara	31d ago	Fit
Beat The Retreat	55d ago	Fresh
Gonnino	55d ago	Fresh