Musselburgh takes centre stage

With Newbury announcing its meeting is abandoned, Channel 4 will televise four races at the John’s Smith’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials over the East Lothian course.

And, as a boost to racing fans desperate for live National Hunt action, Musselburgh is putting up 1,000 free admission tickets for the £80,000 meeting which has attracted a hugely competitive field.

As a result of the live television coverage, the running order has been changed and race times altered by five minutes.

Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “The course is frost-free, we’ve had some overnight rain and the forecast is 8°C for Saturday so we are all set for an excellent day’s racing.”

Tony Carroll has high hopes his Irish import Gracchus can come up with the goods in the John Smith’s Scottish Champion Chase. The Worcestershire trainer bought the six-year-old out of Noel Meade’s stable and was delighted with his first run in Britain when second to Marodima at Warwick last month.

“He ran very well at Warwick for us and we’re going up to Scotland for the good ground. We’d be hopeful of a very big run,” said Carroll.

“We bought him at the sales in Ireland and hopefully he’ll continue to be progress. He’s already a nice horse.”

There was disappointment that the mouthwatering card at Newbury was abandoned due to snow. There had been optimistic noises that the meeting would beat the weather and frost covers had been down for nearly two weeks. However, following 4cm of snow overnight, course officials were left with no choice.

With the likes of Long Run, Sprinter Sacre and Zarkandar all due to have a run before Cheltenham, there is the possibility of the meeting being rearranged.

“We’ve had to abandon,” said clerk of the course Richard Osgood. There’s snow on the covers and there is no predicted rise in temperatures or rain which would help shift it. There have been preliminary discussions about restaging the fixture and we are looking to hold it next week but, at this stage, I know nothing more than that.”

The British Horseracing Authority later tweeted: “Work is under way with the racecourse, sponsors, BHA, Levy Board & broadcasters to re-schedule entire Newbury card or at very least key races.”