Musselburgh on edge but Kelso optimistic

Published on Monday 5 January 2009 22:22

MUSSELBURGH'S hopes of riding to the rescue of National Hunt racing may have to be put in cold storage. Which is pretty much where the rest of the jumps action has been consigned to of late, with no sport over the sticks since last Friday.

At the weekend, officials at the East Lothian circuit had been optimistic tomorrow's scheduled card would go ahead, but faced with plummeting temperatures, it's now more a case of the glass being half-empty rather than half-full.

The track was unraceable yesterday and unless the met men have got it horribly wrong, it's likely to remain so.

"We had a minus five frost on Sunday night and right now it's only zero so we are still frozen at the moment," explained clerk of the course Anthea Morshead. "The forecast was for minus four on Monday night and then minus three on Tuesday night, with milder air set to come in on Wednesday.

"We need to see whether that is going to come soon enough but we are going to look in the morning (Tuesday] to see whether it is completely hopeless or not."

Kelso, where Mrs Morshead is also clerk, are more confident that their Friday card will take place as planned.

"Prospects there look good," she added. "The low pressure will keep temperatures above freezing from Wednesday onwards and while that probably won't arrive in time to save Musselburgh, we would be hopeful for Kelso."

Sedgefield, meanwhile, were supposed to hold an inspection yesterday morning to see if this afternoon's meeting at the County Durham venue could go ahead, but that was scrapped and instead, a decision will be made this morning. Let's hope it's yay not nay as the chances of Quoquille Des Sacart in the opener could be overlooked by some which might ensure the nap goes off a decent price.

The best bet's odds have certainly been on an upward curve in her three starts to date as she was sent off an 11-2 shot for her debut under rules, was then 25-1 next time and was twice that for her latest Haydock outing.

In finishing third that day, however, she showed she was capable of picking up a little race or two and the opening mares' novices hurdle looks the ideal place to start. Having so far only been seen in bumpers, Quoquille Des Sacart's jumping ability has to be taken on trust, but as a former point-to point winner she shouldn't get unduly worried by a few flights of hurdles.