Horse racing: Musselburgh is on the money

SOME possible prospects for next month’s Cheltenham National Hunt Festival will be on show at Musselburgh today, with Nicky Henderson just one of the top trainers who is sending a team north to try to lift some of the valuable prizes at the East Lothian track.

Racegoers should note there is a precautionary inspection planned for 7am today, but temperatures are predicted to rise above freezing to take the remaining frost out of the ground in time for racing.

Today’s card at Fontwell is already off as the course failed an inspection yesterday morning due to the severe frost in the South of England. Kempton’s all-weather Flat meeting is also subject to an inspection at 8am.

All credit to Musselburgh’s management and their sponsors for putting up some serious prize money in these challenging times. They have been rewarded with quality fields competing for the total of £88,000 on offer in the John Smith’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials which form the centrepiece of the afternoon.

It is not overstating the case to say that today’s meeting will decide the immediate fate of a number of horses whose trainers are looking towards running them at next month’s Cheltenham Festival or at the Grand National meeting in April.

Fail to perform to expectations today and there is little chance of them making the journey to either of the big Spring meetings, whereas a bright showing could seal their place at Cheltenham or Aintree.

Nicky Henderson’s five entries lead the contingent from down south, with Ferdy Murphy, Richard Fahey, Donald McCain, John Ferguson, and Mark Johnston – normally best known as a Flat trainer but trying National Hunt now – balanced by leading home grown trainers such as Jim Goldie and Lucinda Russell.

The latter is Scotland’s top jumps trainer this season and summed things up earlier this week by saying: “This is a meeting that owners and trainers aim for throughout the season. We can use the John Smith Scottish trials to gauge how good our best prospects are before deciding if they are ready for Cheltenham. Musselburgh has done a great job in maintaining prize money levels and they should be applauded for the terrific job they are doing.”

Russell trains Quito Du Tresor, the joint top weight in today’s John Smith’s Scottish Champion Chase (2.30). He pulled up in a 2m4f event at Musselburgh last time out but that was not his running as he may have suffered the “bounce” factor from his excellent victory in the Winkworth Chase at Ascot in November.

Russell also has the other joint top weight, Santa’s Son, who is aiming for the Topham Chase at the Grand National meeting if he performs well.

Russell’s other main contender is Bold Sir Brian who has top weight in the John Smith’s Future Champions Novices Chase. The six-year-old is on a hat-trick and is lined up for a possible tilt at Cheltenham.

Course general manager Bill Farnsworth said: “This is Scotland’s richest jumps meeting, behind only the Scottish Grand National, and we are delighted it is gaining the traction it deserves from the top stables. It is a proper staging post for horses which can go on to compete at the major Spring festivals and, with John Smith’s continued support, we will go on improving the prize money and quality of the raceday experience.”

Ayr stages its BetVictor raceday tomorrow with seven races starting at 1.30pm.

The feature race of the afternoon is The Watch Live Racing At BetVictor.com Novices’ Handicap Chase over 3m1f with £8,700 in prize money. Overnight Fame from the Gloucestershire yard of Tom George will have the assistance of Paddy Brennan if he makes the journey north.