Friday the 13th may be unlucky for some but leading jumps jockey Graham Lee will be hoping to add to his 1000th career defining winner after flying home on 8/1 winner Posh Bird at Catterick yesterday.
The Grand National winning jockey’s career goes from strength to strength and the pick of Lee’s mounts at the East Lothian venue will be the Jim Goldie trained Baaher in the 2.10 handicap chase.
Highlight of Musselburgh’s seven race card is the £10,000 Country Refreshments Kilmany Cup and this long established three mile chase has attracted a competitive field, headed by the Banbury trained Key Cutter. Dominic Elsworth partners Paul Webber’s consistent eight-year-old, an 11 length winner at Leicester in early December.
The front running Safari Adventurers will make a bold bid for Lucinda Russell but More Equity would be a popular winner. The ex Peter Monteith trained mare, now trained by Dianne Sayer in Cumbria, ran a promising third over hurdles at Musselburgh’s New Year meeting and back over fences will be given a positive ride by regular partner Ryan Mania.
Next month the Musselburgh spotlight shines on the John Smith’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials on Sunday 5 February, which traditionally attracts some of the country’s best prospects for the Cheltenham Festival proper.
Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “We got off a cracking start to 2012 with a very successful New Year’s Day meeting and we hope the remainder of our four jump fixtures will go as smoothly.
“The John Smith’s Cheltenham Trials is our standout fixture and it grows stronger every year with some first class fields making the trip from the main UK stables. We are looking forward to this highlight and putting on another great day’s racing at Musselburgh.”
Gates open today at 11am and the first race is at 12.40pm, although you should note that there will be a precautionary inspection at 7am this morning with overnight temperatures forecast at minus 1 to plus 4.
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