Horse Racing: Ballabriggs' weighty task does not faze Donald McCain

McCain's family is synonymous with the great race following the exploits of his father and three-time winner Red Rum. Ballabriggs won at the Cheltenham Festival last March and has won two novice hurdles easily enough so far this season, giving McCain plenty of hope that he is great form.

The weights are headed by last year's hero Don't Push It and Neptune Collonges who are both on 11st 10lb. "I've no complaints with that for Ballabriggs. He's a Cheltenham Festival winner so it was always going to be around the 11st mark," said McCain. "The bonus is that Don't Push It is likely to run so the weights aren't going to change at all. I've no complaints."

Jonjo O'Neill was philosophical about Don't Push It being set a stiff task in his repeat bid. The Jackdaws Castle handler instead feels Can't Buy Time may be his best chance of success this year off just 10st 4lb. "Don't Push It is in good form, it's a shame he's got top weight but there's not a lot we can do about that," said O'Neill. "There are a lot of better-handicapped horses in there, but it's more about getting him in the mood than what weight he's got. He really did enjoy it last year, it was a fantastic performance and let's hope he can do the same again."

Just behind the top two in the weights is Howard Johnson's mercurial talent Tidal Bay on 11st 9lb. Winner of the Arkle over two miles back in 2008, he now appears to need every yard of three miles and is on target for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Johnson has yet to confirm his participation, but was keen on the chances of Santa's Son off a weight of 10st 5lb. "The main aim for Tidal Bay is the Gold Cup so we'll see," said Johnson. "I have schooled him over National fences before and he jumps them like a buck. There's nearly a month between them and he's ten now but we'll see, He wants a marathon trip these days, which is strange for an Arkle winner.

"If he ran, we'd know our fate early. He'll either take to it or tail himself off. Santa's Son should get in and at this stage he'd be my main hope. He's won a Castleford Chase so he's got a bit of class and he came out of his win at Musselburgh in very good shape. He'll stay."

Another Cheltenham Festival winner in the mix is Jimmy Moffatt's Chief Dan George who has been given 10st 12lb. "I'd be happy with that, he's off his correct mark," said Moffatt. "Don't Push It will run so we'll stay under 11st. We don't want to go through that barrier as not too many win above 11st."

The curtain comes down on Musselburgh's 2010-11 jumps programme today and competition for the Isle Of Skye- sponsored end-of-season awards could hardly be tighter.

Brian Hughes leads the jockeys' title race with five winners, one clear of Graham Lee and Dougie Costello with Peter Buchanan just a further point adrift.

Howard Johnson and Lucinda Russell head the trainers' list with four winners apiece and Kinross-based Russell could have the edge this afternoon with at least three fancied runners on the six-race card.

Russell's consistent Blenheim Brook will be hard to beat in the opening novices' hurdle (1.50pm). Kai Broon looks handily weighted in the Nairn's Oatcakes Juvenile Handicap hurdle (3.20pm) and Quinder Spring will be a big player in the novices' handicap chase (4.20pm).

The feature race is the 10,000 Weatherbys Wealth Planning Hurdle at 3.50pm. This competitive handicap could develop into a match between the lightly-weighted duo of Kaolak and Dontpaytheferryman.

Kaolak, trained by Keith Reveley and ridden by his son James, was narrowly beaten by the Irish raider Silverlord on his recent visit to Musselburgh while Dontpaytheferryman has been consistent both on the all-weather and over hurdles since before Christmas. Brian Ellison has booked the smart conditional Paul Gallagher to take the mount and his 7lb allowance swings the balance in favour of Dontpaytheferryman.