Deauville Post primed to deliver Musselburgh Gold Cup triumph

Today's new fixture was a gamble for general manager Bill Farnsworth and his team but it seems to have paid off with a great deal of interest in the rejuvenated Musselburgh Gold Cup - and two other 20,000 races making up the bulk of the total 80,000 pot.

The historic Musselburgh Gold Cup, which runs at 3.40pm, has attracted a maximum turnout. Jim Goldie's 2009 winner Gordonsville sets the standard, but the strong pace sure to be set by Record Breaker will suit Deauville Post, a rare Musselburgh raider from the Wiltshire stable of champion trainer Richard Hannon. Pat Dobbs has the mount on this improving stayer who ran out a comfortable winner on his seasonal reappearance at Lingfield.

First run in 1817, the Musselburgh Gold Cup (then the Edinburgh Gold Cup) is the oldest race to be run at the East Lothian track.

Freddie Tylicki, badly injured in a crashing fall from Sea Of Leaves in last June's Scottish Sprint Cup, will be fancied to make a winning return to Musselburgh in the 20,000 Class 2 Handicap at 3.15. The former champion apprentice teams up with the Howard Johnson trained Calypso Magic, already a course and distance winner this spring when easily accounting for Rainy Champion at Musselburgh's opening fixture of the turf season.

Tim Easterby has his string in peak form and the Malton trainer can land the 5f Scottish Racing Conditions Stakes with his consistent Hamish McGonagall. David Allan's mount, a popular favourite at Musselburgh, finished an encouraging third behind Evens And Odds and Redford in a similar contest at Thirsk earlier in the month and can take full advantage of his stand side draw.

Musselburgh races again tomorrow with its traditionally family day on Easter Sunday. Gates open on both days at 11.30am. The first race today is 1.55pm and at 2.30pm tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, Sam Twiston-Davies will be going all out to win the race on Baby Run for his injured younger brother Willie.

The latter broke his leg in a fall at Stratford on Sunday, just eight days after guiding the horse, owned and trained by their father Nigel, to victory in the Fox Hunters' Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

Sam had been Baby Run's regular partner last season when he was an amateur, winning the Christies Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Now he wants to win to end this jumps campaign on a high and dedicate the success to his brother.

"Willie's ridden him all this season and he's done a brilliant job, but I can't wait to ride him again," he said.

"The horse seems in brilliant form.I actually schooled him on Thursday and he jumped brilliantly so touch wood all will be all right. It would be absolutely great to win it for Willie. He gave him a great ride at Aintree and he'll definitely be watching the race.

"I'll be having a chat about the race with him. I'm not sure where he will be watching it. He's getting around but I don't think he's quite up to going racing yet. He came out of hospital on Tuesday evening and we went to the cinema last night. It just takes him a bit of time to get around at the moment so he might not go racing."

Church Island carried just 10st 5lb to victory in this race 12 months ago but is now burdened with 11st 12lb after Siegemaster was taken out. Michael Hourigan's charge bids to become only the third horse to win the race in successive years after Larbawn (1968-9) and Topsham Bay (1992-93). The Irish-trained veteran would also be making history as no 12-year-old has prevailed since the prestigious chase was inaugurated in 1957.

"He's in good form and is a horse that wants better ground. This has been the plan since last year, and Adrian Heskin will ride him again," said Hourigan.