Horse Racing: Horses for courses is the best ploy at Musselburgh

Course winners are always worth following at Musselburgh and that old punters rule can be the way to success on the East Lothian track tomorrow.

Any Given Moment opened his account over hurdles here just three weeks ago and looks all set to follow up in the Arnolds Handicap Hurdle (1.50).

The gelding is trained in the Borders by Sandy Thomson and has proved a bargain as he changed hands for just 2000 guineas at Doncaster sales in May and was having only his second start for his new trainer. Successful twice over two miles on the level, he had made 40,000 gns when bought by top trainer Donald McCain in October last year, but failed to make the frame in six starts for the Cheshire trainer and was sold on again.

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The five-year-old benefited from stepping up to three miles here earlier this month, but travelled so smoothly throughout that I reckon he won’t be troubled by dropping back half a mile in trip this time.

Baaher also scored at the last meeting here and he can follow up in the Racing UK Handicap Chase (2.55) for Glasgow trainer Jim Goldie.

The gelding was successful over hurdles at Perth last year before trying his luck over the larger obstacles. He had been placed four times in ten starts in novice chases before opening his account on this track. He may well have had a little luck on his side that day as a clear leader fell three from home, but his attitude and jumping could not be faulted and Goldie clearly has him in good shape.

Vosges has run well in two starts over fences and can take the Scottish Racing Beginners Chase (1.20).

A winner here twice over hurdles in the early weeks of this year, he made much of the running when a promising fifth on his chase debut at Kelso in October and turned in an excellent effort for a four-year-old when runner-up over two miles here in November. The gelding gets a fair weight allowance from most of his rivals tomorrow and can go one better this time for Borders trainer James Ewart.

Nodda High Kid was a shock 80-1 winner of a bumper on his debut at the last meeting here and can prove it was no fluke by following up in the Wishing You a happy Christmas National Hunt Flat race (3.25) which close the card. The chestnut was always prominent, led halfway up the home straight and battled on gamely to win by a head in the hands of Callum Whillans whose 7lb allowance will help to offset a bigger weight this time.

The five-year-old is trained by Callum’s father Donald who also bred him and who said after that winning debut that the horse had been showing plenty at home for some time, but had been plagued by niggling injuries. Well he clearly has an engine and can prove it again tomorrow

Musselburgh selections: 1.20 Vosges; 1.50 Any Given Moment; 2.55 Baaher; 3.25 Nodda High Kid.