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You couldn’t find a track that is more unlike Cheltenham.
Then you have the small matter that the northern horses in general are not very good. So unless southern trainers are prepared to travel you just have a bunch of second division animals running for decent prize money.
Malcolm Jefferson is probably the only northern trainer with one or two horses worth pitching in at Cheltenham and he hardly ever has a runner of any note at Musselburgh because the track just favours the speedier, flat bred animal.
Musselburgh often gives Cheltenham ground conditions, Stilvi. I’d say Musselburgh was more Cheltenham-like than Sandown today. And the North will have some handicappers and probably a few novices.
I enjoyed the Salmon Sprey at Fontwell over the years. That’s hardly like Cheltenham, nor is Wincanton (Kingwell).
Value Is EverythingTHis question has been asked here in previous years. I suspect a good proportion of the trainers who run horses at this meeting will tell you it’s because the ground is good or near to good. It gives a chance of a decent competitive run on the free draining links soil at Musselburgh. I moved up to Scotland in 2006 and can’t remember a Musselburgh meeting run on anything worse than soft in that time.
Last year’s 8 race single day meeting yielded at least one Cheltenham runner from each race and, by means of quick check, 15 Cheltenham runners in all including:
Fagan 2nd in Albert Bartlett
Sky Khan 3rd in Martin Pipe Hurdle
Tagliatelle 4th in Pertemps Final
Full Shift 4th in 2m 4f Plate
Charbel 5th in Supreme NoviceFrom memory the 2015 meeting gave a similar return.
I’m pretty sure that the ‘go ahead’ Bill Farnsworth would have no trouble justifying his marketing of this meeting. Anyway if you took your line to its logical conclusion you would only hold Cheltenham trials at Cheltenham…
Everything else aside this meeting has now become one of the best meetings of the season in Scotland.
Rob
THis question has been asked here in previous years. I suspect a good proportion of the trainers who run horses at this meeting will tell you it’s because the ground is good or near to good. It gives a chance of a decent competitive run on the free draining links soil at Musselburgh. I moved up to Scotland in 2006 and can’t remember a Musselburgh meeting run on anything worse than soft in that time.
Last year’s 8 race single day meeting yielded at least one Cheltenham runner from each race and, by means of quick check, 15 Cheltenham runners in all including:
Fagan 2nd in Albert Bartlett
Sky Khan 3rd in Martin Pipe Hurdle
Tagliatelle 4th in Pertemps Final
Full Shift 4th in 2m 4f Plate
Charbel 5th in Supreme NoviceFrom memory the 2015 meeting gave a similar return.
I’m pretty sure that the ‘go ahead’ Bill Farnsworth would have no trouble justifying his marketing of this meeting. Anyway if you took your line to its logical conclusion you would only hold Cheltenham trials at Cheltenham…
Everything else aside this meeting has now become one of the best meetings of the season in Scotland.
Rob
From a Scotsman , really great answer Rob or should that be “Rab” now
rob’s said it all really. Besides. if Scottish racing didn’t have a marque trials weekend then the overall quality of Scottish jumps fare wouldn’t stand much chance of improving which, in an era of a near Southern monopoly, is vital.
Anyways, here is some pedigree info for today’s novices and bumper.
1.40
Burbank 2/1 Wahiba Sands (161), 2/2 Fistral Beach (149), Rons Dream (142)
Katalystic 2/2 Idle Talk (155), 5/4 Dun Doire (142)
Maple Stirrup.5 Sourabad (123), 4/1 That’s Your Lot (1985 Summit Hurdle)
Tree Of Liberty 2/1 Bewleys Berry (153), 4/2 Ballyhane (158), 5/1 Approaching (1978 Hennessy), 5/2 Feathered Gale 153, 5/2 Harwell Lad (149), 5/2 Adamant Approach (153), 6/1 Royal Approach (1954 IGN), Quick Approach
Winningtry 2/2 Sean Airgead (130), 5/4 Space Trucker (161), 5/5 Saludos (148)2.10
Apertix 3/2 Passe Partout Aulmes (2008 Prix Achille-Fould), 2/1 Val des Aulmes (2 Auteuil wins)
Daydream Island 1/0 Ring Hill (112 – 3rd G3MNvH), 3/1 Frozen Groom (149), 4/2 Sweet Glow (155)
Frodon 2/1 Medermit (170), 2/2 Saint Pistol (144)
Holly Bush Henry .5 Corkage (141), Handy Andy (133), 2/1 Masalarian (140)2.40
High Secret no jumps relatives
London Prize .5 Categorical (131),
Lough Derg Spirit .5 Sizing Machine (138), 2/1 Ten Plus (167), 2/2 Strong Tel (151), 2/2 Feathered Leader (136), 2/3 Marinero (143), 2/3 Westren Warrior (140)
Optima Petamus .5 Unidentified Thief (2010 GCdHdPrintemps), Crecy (3rd Prix Finot)
Peter The Mayo Man – no jumps relatives, good distaff pedigree (Ameerat, Roussalka)
Stipulate 4/2 Manorson (139), 4/3 Inventor (142)3.40
Ami Desbois – dam won twice at Pau
Ballycrystal 2/1 Comply or Die (156), 2/2 Our Vinnie (141), 3/2 Midland Flame (139), 3/3 Golden Wonder (147), 4/3 Flame Creek (159), 4/3 The Disengager (155), 4/1 Tomboy II, King Flame
Monbeg Charmer .5 Magic Spear 138, 3/1 Cooch Behar (2. Scilly Isles), 3/2 Feroda (162), Native Portrait (134), 3/3 Kerryhead Windfarm (157)
Overland Flyer 2/1 Sizing Symphony (144), Monbeg Theatre (130), 3/1 Ring The Boss (148), Theatre Girl (141), Flash Of Genius (137)…
Seemorelights flat bred (Bluebook, Myself)
Skipthecuddles .5 According To Trev, 2/1 Cheeky Lady (130), 4/3 Numbersixvalverde (154), 4/2 Fatal Hesitation, 4/4 Ponmeoath (142), 4/4 I’msingingtheblues (150)
Soupy Soups 2/1 Chef Comedien (119), 4/2 Dashing Rose (118)4.40
Amateur 2/1 Authinger (125), 3/1 Albert Hall (132)
Ballyvic Boru 3/0 Primrolla (1982 Finale), 3/2 Boogy Woogy (125 – 3rd Wensleydale), 5/1 Rodman (1977 Finale, 2.Triumph)
Beyond The Clouds 3/1 Carbisdale (148), Penny Forum (142)
Captain Woodie .5 Coverholder (143), 2/1 Harbour Pilot (168), 2/2 Living Next Door (148), 2/2 Kilcrea Castle (152), 2/2 Get Me Out Of Here (159), Rock On The Moor (140), 3/0 Synarria, 3/2 Monty’s Pass (162), 3/2 Eduard (165)
Competition 3/2 Sharbasia (2006 Prix Finot)
Wee Bogus .5 Grafite (129), 2/1 Amazing King (134), 2/2 Always Waining (149)
Wemyss Point – flat bred (Beat Hollow, Wemyss Bight, Vacamonte) 2/1 Wemyss Quest (129), 4/3 Star Wood (139)Bachelors Hall
A bit of trivia I picked up on Twitter is that Skipthecuddles (ran Wetherby yesterday so presumably absent today) doesn’t have a tongue having lost it in an accident. Apparently his trainer says he has no trouble eating and isn’t unduly inconvenienced by it.
Arazi
Sorry to disappoint you but adopted Scot only! I was born near Newbury and moved up here over 10 years ago, but soon tuned into the vibrant Scottish racing circuit.
Worth keeping an eye on a few more meetings at Musselburgh (and Scotland) for future pointers. Watch out for Musselburgh’s Edinburgh Cup on Derby Day which normally throws up a group of decent performers. Kelso’s Premier Chase has thrown up two winners of the National in recent times (admittedly Aurora’s Encore was stuffed out of sight at Kelso!). Had to throw that one in as a Kelso member! Both Kelso and Musselburgh bumpers are worth keeping an eye on as a few decent horses have started their careers in these.
Rob
Bachelors Hall
A bit of trivia I picked up on Twitter is that Skipthecuddles (ran Wetherby yesterday so presumably absent today) doesn’t have a tongue having lost it in an accident. Apparently his trainer says he has no trouble eating and isn’t unduly inconvenienced by it
What was the accident? Details?
This could be useful to know.
Fine meeting with plenty of point to it. Not sure re Sat/Sun as opposed to Sun/Mon, Sandown is a better Sat card, but can live with it. Less sure re balance of the two cards, I know the bookies like lots of handicaps on a Sat but only 24 runners in the first five races combined today so would prefer a couple of today’s novices races to be swapped with a couple of the low class Sat handicaps.
Bachelors Hall
A bit of trivia I picked up on Twitter is that Skipthecuddles (ran Wetherby yesterday so presumably absent today) doesn’t have a tongue having lost it in an accident. Apparently his trainer says he has no trouble eating and isn’t unduly inconvenienced by it
What was the accident? Details?
This could be useful to know.
Trainer said it was an accident while on the walker. I presume he bit through it.
Where do you start with this?
Southern trainers are prepared to travel up Stilvi, not just for the ground but the excellent prize money as well. Any racecourse prepared to put up this sort of money should be applauded. And at a time when the disparity between northern and southern jumps racing has never been higher we should surely be encouraging as much good quality racing as possible.
It would be interesting to see what the attendance yesterday was, given that the rugby was on at the same time along the road as well as the entry price of £30 (£25 if you booked in advance).
Yes, while talking up Musselburgh I must admit I’m watching this meeting from home as I’m just doing Kelso reciprocals there this year. £20 walk up midweek is steep and it’s £25 plus at weekends and £3 for a programme which was free a couple of years back. Still in the main they are getting decent attendances so must be doing something right, I was told New Year’s Day was absolutely heaving.
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