Musselburgh hopes double

The two-day card is a welcome boost for National Hunt racing fans, who have been hit by multiple cancellations across Britian due to the big freeze.

Musselburgh lost three meetings over the Christmas holidays, but racecourse general manager Bill Farnsworth is optimistic the weekend double-header will beat the elements.

The BHA awarded the extra fixture on the basis that the scheduled weekend meetings at Warwick and Wetherby will not be able to proceed due to adverse weather conditions. Both courses will decide later in the week if racing goes ahead.

Farnsworth said: "A steady thaw is underway and, if it continues, we are looking good for racing on both days. The extra race day will be most welcome for jumps followers who have been starved of action in the last two weeks."

Racing was able to take place on the all-weather at Kempton and Wolverhampton yesterday, and the other two all-weather circuits, Lingfield and Southwell have meetings today.

Rising star David Probert doubled his tally for 2010 with a 194-1 brace at Kempton aboard Thoughtsofstardom and Slick Mover. The talented youngster narrowly missed out on retaining the champion apprentice title last year, and has made a most promising start to the new decade.

Probert already had triumphs at Lingfield and Wolverhampton under his belt and visited the winner's enclosure in Sunbury as Thoughtsofstardom burned off his eight rivals to make all in the fast-and-furious williamhill.com/best Odds Guaranteed Handicap. Probert pushed Phil McEntee's seven-year-old into an early lead and the pair were never eyeballed as they strode along confidently to cause a 14-1 upset.

Probert completed his brace as Slick Mover, backed down to 12-1 from 16s in division one of the William Hill 0800 44 40 40 Bet Now! Handicap, defeated 11-4 favourite Taste The Wine by a length and three-quarters.