Horse racing tips: Citizen calling?

He looks the one to be on here.

Nights in Venice is a modest performer, but he is generally consistent and he is now down to his last winning mark.

He was pulled up in very heavy conditions at on his reappearance, but he ran okay before getting to that punishing home straight. If he comes on for that, he could well go close under a decent 5lb claimer.

His recent hurdles form has been modest but hopefully a few factors can combine here to see an upturn in fortunes.

Bashful returns to Musselburgh - he has won over hurdles here on his last two visits, with both victories under this rider - while he has dropped to a mark below the 100-rated ceiling of this handicap.  

Bashful has been beaten on very heavy ground recently and slightly better conditions at this track might help also.

He might well be worth chancing at a price.

Lively Citizen won on his chasing debut a couple of seasons ago but was overfaced at next time, and then fell when looking set to win over this course and distance almost exactly a year ago. 

He has not been seen over fences since, but he did win a hurdles race off this mark so he is certainly not a lost cause on that and might be ready for this switch back to fences. 

Lively Citizen has had a couple of runs so far this season and did okay at last time.