17:40 Well that's it from Musselburgh, a track where I always struggle to find a winner and where it always rains when I attend.
As always the welcome at the course could not be faulted and if you are ever in the area on a race day you should make a point of visiting this friendly course.
No live coverage tomorrow but on Wednesday we have a double header from Sandown and Kenpton.
Until then a very good evening.
17:32 We had a delay before our final contest, a mile and a half handicap, because Linda Perratt’s Forrest Flyer spread a plate and had to be re-shod.
Clearly the new shoe fitted well as the gelding led for much of the race, eventually finishing second to his stable mate Chookie Hamilton – I think MIss Perratt owes me a drink because I almost tipped the beast but changed my mind.
Tom Eaves run on the winner made up for his earlier ride on Digit. He rode a waiting race, keeping the gelding covered before making progress in the home straight.
Mark Johnston’s Always Brave ran on to take third..
The very well backed, despite my tipping it, Three Strings came home fourth.
17:04 Only one heat left in which I can upset a trainer – the finger of fate is pointing at Three Strings with sincere apologies to P D Niven.
16:53 Another heat over the minimum distance for our penultimate race and the tipping returns to normal.
In another race where the early leaders were line abreast.
Come the business end it was King Of Swords, who had been in contention early on, who took the lead a furlong out. Giving Frederik Tylicki a double on the afternoon.
Russell Kennemore ensured Lambency made the winner work for his prize money whilst Botham beat Windjammer in a photo for third.
The clear favourite was Blazing Heights, who ran an eye catching fourth at Doncaster last week. Today James Goldie’s gelding was never in contention finishing a never nearer fifth, burning a few fingers in the process
16:34 We have the attendance figures for today 2,023 which is 20% up on the corresponding meeting last year.
Well a winner at last and I am going to get really brave in the next going for an outsider in the form of Johnny Ebeneezer.
16:28 At last the tipping curse is finally broken as Cerito gives the recovering Mick Channon another win, although it was close as if the race had been a few yards longer it is arguable that the running on runner-up Fivefoornumberone would have nailed him.
There were no clear leaders in the early stages with Mary Mason, Mythical Blue and Sir Geoffrey sharing the lead.
The eventual winner was happy to settle behind the leading three, with the remainder tucked in behind.
One and a half furlongs out Cerito took the lead under claimer Matthew Davies but Graham Gibbons launched Fivefootnumberone on the near rail for what was almost a decisive run.
Majuba, another running on contender, denied the favourite Mythical Blue third place.
16:08 Race five is over the minimum distance and we have a late non-runner in this one- Lucky Art.
The tipping curse apology in this race goes to Mick Channon, as if he doesn’t have enough to worry about at the moment, and his Cerito.
15:56 Another easy winner, this time a 4½ length victory for the favourite Wind Star, with the cursed tip Fremen getting second place, although it could be argued he was unlucky in not having racing room half a mile from home.
In the early stages it was Ignition and Jane Of Arc who were to the fore, tracked by Abbondanza who took a keen hold, with the favourite tucked in behind these leading three.
Three pound claimer Neil Brown asked Wind Star for an effort three out and the gelding responded well taking the lead and winning as he pleased.
Fremen came from the pack but was never a threat and Desert Destiny ran on for third.
The run of Incline looks worth a second glance, it could be argued the horse could have been ridden with a bit more endeavour by Franke McDonald and it would be interesting to know why he did not go for a gap that appeared half way down the home straight.
15:39 A 1 mile 1 furlong contest for our fourth event and the kiss of death in the race goes to Fremen – well the Nicholls family have won the first two races so I had better give them a handicap.
15:27 The betting reflected the tightness of the handicap with only two points separating the top six in the betting.
However the race itself told a completely different story with Merchant Of Dubai recording a facile seven length victory. Under the apprentice find of the season Frederick Tylicki, the Geoff Swinbank trained gelding tracked the leaders for the first three quarters of the race before making a run two from home and showing a clean pair of hooves to his rivals.
Its Moon who had been at the van throughout took the runners up spot with Red Wine and Kyber having a good battle for third place, with the former getting the call.
Nero West was with the leaders early on before settling mid-division then finishing a tired last.
There was a Hamlet moment at the start when Kristiansand refused to come out of the stalls – I can hear the cry of Big Mac now.
15:12 We’re up to 14 furlongs for our third contest and I am loath to make a selection lest the trainer of the horse comes after me with a horse whip.
The running of my selection (and favourite) in the last was just too bad to be believed.
Like the first this next race is almost impossible to fathom out, the kiss of death is to be shared between Nero West and Trip The Light – with apologies to Miss Perratt and Mr Fahey.
14:58 Some controversy in our second race which produced a very close finish. However there were some angry mutterings from some punters.
The first interesting run was that of the favourite, Identity, who was well behind from the start and never in contention, finishing nearer last than first.
However the biggest controversy concerned the result at the business end.
Little Tokyo who had been a handful going down to the start shared the early lead with Nchike before taking the lead on his own.
Tracking the leaders was Digit who had been well backed from 7/1 into 5/1.
Digit took up the running two out and looked the clear winner under Tom eaves, however he then began a relentless drift to the stand side, conceding ground in the process.
Meanwhile Nciike kept a straight line in the centre of the course and in a tight finish got the call by a short head giving the Dandy and Adrian Nicholls a quick double.
Svindal under Silvestre De Sousa ran on to take third.
A postscript to the race, winning jockey Adrian Nicholls picked up a two day ban for using the whip with excessive frequency.
14:36 Another seven furlong contest for our second race although this time a seller.
Not very original but I take Identity to win – however the tip comes with a health warning – I have a terrible record with my tipping at Musselburgh, as we saw in the first race.
14:26 A tight little handicap on paper and so it turned out to be in reality.
Keys Of Cyprus opened the betting as favourite but was deposed by Finsbury before the off.
The field set off at good pace, taken along by Dhhamaan under claimer Michael Stainton. Sands Of Bara kept the leader company with the remainder of the field bunched behind.
Adrian Nicholls kept Keys Of Cyprus held up mid-division in the early stages.
At the business end Mr Lu took up the running as the field stuck to the far rail. On the near side
Wisdoms Kiss under Graham Gibbons came with what looked to be a decisive run on the stands side but he just did not have enough.
At this stage there were many horses running on, including Keys Of Cyprus who took the lead in the final half furlong to beat Mr Lu by half a length with Grand Diamond, also running on, taking third.
14:05 Some more non-runners, details on the right.
Nothing really stands out in the paddock the negative, who will probably go on to win, is Pintano who looked on the skinny side.
13:30 The opener looks to be a tight little handicap and I think I will look at them in the parade ring before making a final decision.
On paper there are two I quite like the look of Rainbow Fox and the grey Finsbury. The former is currently trading at around 13/2 in the early exchanges whilst the latter is around 5/1.
13:25 The crowd are starting to arrive - quite a few students as there is a special promotion giving freshers free admission this afternoon - I hope they are not going to squander their grants on what looks to be a very tricky card punting wise.
The weather is being a real pain - not heavy rain but persistent spitting – neither one thing nor the other.
13:15 The official going is Good To Soft, Soft In Places.
13:03 Two more non-runners and I am sure the non-runner in the 3:20, Ptolomeos, will please this afternoons commentator Doug Fraser.
12:04 Good afternoon from Musselburgh where the weather is overcast and there is drizzle in the air.
We should be in for a good afternoons racing with six of the seven races attracting maximum fields.
We have a few non-runners so far, details on the right.
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Non-Runners
2:50
6 Loched Up (Travel)
13 Kabougg (Travel)
3:20
6 Ptolomeos (Not eaten up)
13 Stravonian (Travel)
3:50
2 Lucky Art
12 La Columbina (Swelling)
4:20
10 Wee Bizzom (Not eaten up)
4:50
9 Hawaii Prince (Lame)
12 Smiddy Hill (Cast in box)
14 Howards Prince (Travel)
5:20
1 Rehearsal (going)
9 John Dillon (Lame)
11 Ifatfirst (Lame)
Results
2:20
1st 4 Keys Of Cyprus 11/2
2nd 11 Mr Lu 9/1
3rd 2 Grand Diamond 11/1
14 Ran Fav No 5 11/4
Distances 1/2L & 3/4L
Tote
Win £7.20
Place £2.70 £2.20 £4.60
Exacta £34.40
CSF £54.87
Tricast £541.03
Time 1' 31.25" (Slow 1.25")
2:50
1st 1 Nchike 9/2
2nd 10 Digit 5
3rd 8 Svindal 33/1
12 Ran NR's 6 & 13
Distances Short Head & 3/4L
Tote
Win £4.80
Place £2.10 £2.00 £7.80
Exacta £28.80
CSF £25.96
Time 1' 33.50" (Slow 3.20")
3:20
1st 9 Merchant Of Dubai 9/2 fav
2nd 10 Its Moon 10
3rd 1 Red Wine 16/1
12 Ran NR's 6 & 13
Distances 7L & 1L
Tote
Win £6.80
Place £2.20 £3.80 £4.90
Exacta £95.40
CSF £50.92
Tricast £675.38
Time 3' 05.76" (Slow 0.46")
3:50
1st 3 Wind Star 5/2 fav
2nd 1 Fremen 3/1
3rd 8 Desert Destiny 20/1
12 Ran NR's 2 & 12
Distances 4 1/2L & 1 3/4L
Tote
Win £3.80
Place £1.50 £1.50 £6.20
Exacta £11.40
CSF £9.44
Time 1' 56.77" (slow 2.07")
4:20
1st 1 Cerito 11/2
2nd 5 Fivefootnumberone 6/1
3rd 4 Majuba 16/1
8 Ran NR's 2 & 10
Distances Neck & 3/4L
Tote
Win £7.00
Place £2.00 £2.10 £1.40
Exacta £38.10
CSF £39.33
Tricast £148.81
Time 1' 02.24" (Slow 1.84")
4:50
1st 2 King Of Swords 11/2
2nd 8 Lambency 14/1
3rd 11 Botham 10/1
11 Ran NR's 9 , 12 & 14
Distances 1/2 & 3/4
Tote
Win £6.60
Place £2.20 £3.60 £3.20
Exacta £109.80
CSF £83.49
Tricast £784.03
Time 1' 02.11" (slow 1.71")
5:20
1st 10 Chookie Hamilton 8/1
2nd 13 Forrest Flyer 12/1
3rd 14 Always Brave 4/1
11 Ran NR's 1 , 9 & 11
Distances 3/4L & neck
Tote
Win £11.90
Place £3.10 £4.10 £2.10
Exacta £63.00
CSF £109.35
Tricast £455.26
Time 2' 41.35" (Slow 1.65")
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