1981 National hero Champion at Musselburgh

BOB Champion, who famously won the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti at Aintree just two years after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, will be the guest of honour at Musselburgh this afternoon as he continues the latest challenge of a colourful life.

Champion will be at the East Lothian track as part of a fund raising campaign which takes in every UK racecourse.

Criss-crossing the country in a 10,000-mile marathon, Champion's '60:60 Charity Challenge' will visit 60 racecourses in 60 days. The racing legend aims to raise 250,000 for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and the Injured Jockeys Fund.

In return for a minimum 50 donation, supporters can join Champion at the meeting today where they have the chance to walk the Musselburgh course with him before racing and enjoy a photo opportunity with him and other jockeys.

The quaintly named Core Oil and Gas Lowball Booth Conditions Stakes is the feature race of a highly competitive card. The 20,000 five furlong dash has attracted a small but select field of six and the outcome could develop into a match between Moorhouse Lad and Rebel Duke.

The pair finished second and third behind Wi Dud in a Listed sprint at Nottingham three weeks ago and Moorhouse Lad is taken to confirm the placings.

Bryan Smart, his trainer, has a 23 per cent winning strike rate at Musselburgh and in addition to landing valuable sprint races at Newbury and Goodwood, Moorhouse Lad also chased home the top class Marchand D'Or in the 2008 Prix De L' Abbaye at Longchamp. He is a quality performer and well drawn in the No 2 stall.

The 12,000 seven-furlong handicap is wide open with the consistent Carcinetto bidding to improve on her half-length second to Spirit of Sharjah in Listed company at Leicester last Saturday.

David Evans' long distance raider is well drawn but could be vulnerable under her big weight and the course and distance winner Malcheek looks the value bet to follow up his recent runaway success at Wolverhampton. Malcheek, trained by the inform Tim Easterby, has also been allotted a favourable inside berth and this speedy front runner is selected to defy his 6lbs penalty.

Mr Lu, trained by Jim Goldie, is napped to win the concluding race, the Racing UK Handicap.

Earlier in the afternoon the 8000 Hart Builders (Edinburgh) Ltd Handicap provides the father and daughter combination of Kevin and Amy Ryan with the opportunity to repeat their Thirsk success with the well handicapped Fujin Dancer, while the Boogie In The Morning Handicap run over one mile, six furlongs at 4.35 can go to Peter Monteith's Los Nadis.

Gates open at noon and the first race is off at 2.20pm.

Goldie, meanwhile, is looking forward to getting stable stalwart Nanton back on the track in the StanJames.com Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

The eight-year-old enjoyed a fine campaign during 2009, winning a competitive event at Doncaster as well as being placed in the Ebor and the Cambridgeshire. He has his first start in Group company this weekend, and Goldie said: "We know he likes Newmarket and we've got a good jockey (Ryan Moore] booked, so I'm hoping for a good run."