06:56 Following a frost free night racing goes ahead and the going is Good (6.7)

If all goes to plan updates from the course should be from about 12:15

09:28 There are, currently, two non-runners - details on the right

12:12 Well 6½ hours after leaving home I have finally arrived at a sunny but chilly Muselburgh to find out Tommo is commentating.

12:26 Our opening contest is the Country Refreshments Maiden Hurdle with 14 off to post for the two mile contest, our largest field of the afternoon.

Not too many clues from the parade ring, although Beyond The Tweed was a little bit on his toes.

12:50 A bit of a scare for favourite backers as Tommo though the favourite had fallen at the sixth fence, although he did quickly correct himself - he will do himself no favours as part of his review though.

A rare Mark Johnson national hunt runner, Bowdler's Magic, ran in typical Mark Johnson style attempting to make all and all credit to him he was still in the shake-up when it became a three way go for the finish.

White Fusion tracked the leader and came upsides the long time leader as they swung for home.

The trio was made up by Artisan who was settled early on before making steady progress in the final mile.

It was hard to call the winner on the run in but White Fusion managed to get his head in front where it mattered, recording a head victory.

It was much closer for the runners-up spot with Artisan edging out Bowdler's Magic by a very short head.

The favourite, Lemon Drop Red, was most disappointing making some late progress but only finishing a never nearer fourth, 3¼ lengths behind the placed horses.  

13:00 Race two is the Country Refreshments Beginners' Chase an two mile contest with just five going to post.

Degas Art was cocking his head as they went round the parade ring. Charminster looked better than the others.

13:18 Charminster looked the best horse in the parade ring and was the best on the course.

Happy to allow Vosges to set the pace Jason Maguire came upsides as they turned for home, jumping four out upsides he pulled clear approaching three out and came home a decisive 5 length winner and probably value for more.

There was a good battle for the runners-up spot with Degas Art, settled in rear for most of the contest, out-running Vosges on the run-in coming home 1¼ lengths clear. 

13:30 Race three is another two mile hurdle, the County Refreshments Selling Hurdle with six off to post.

Philharmonic Hall is not the biggest runner we will see over hurdles but he looks nice nonetheless. Kickahead also caught the eye.

13:46 Call the police because Dontpaytheferryman stole this race, making all he never saw another rival and his five rivals seemed more than happy to allow him a soft lead and he was quite happy to take full advantage, coming home an unchallenged 14 length winner.

Philharmonic Hall and Red Skipper battled it out for second spot most of the contest but when it mattered Philharmonic Hall was, once again, found wanting and he came home 25 lengths third.

Kickahead gave his rider a very soft unseating at the fourth.

All in all a race to forget.

14:02 Next up is the 2½ mile County Refreshments Handicap Chase.

Just four go to post and something has to win the race but I'm blowed if I can see what will - certainly no clues in the parade ring.

14:20 Another weak contest but as I said earlier something had to win and the favourite, Red Tanber, took the race with relative ease to get his hat-trick, although he only beat exposed horses.

Ballymacduff was the pacesetter, leading for the first circuit until headed by Red Tanber seven from home.

As they turned for home Baaher eased past the jolly but it looked as though Lucy Alexander was just taking a breather and Red Tanber took the lead again three out and was never headed, coming home a five length winner.

Indeed Baaher was sending out distress signals and Markadam eased past to take the runners-up spot by seven lengths.

Ballymacduff was a further eight lengths back in last place. 

14:32 An extended three mile hurdle next as nine go to post for the County Refreshments Handicap Hurdle.

Hotgrove Boy, Isla Patriot and Velvet Vic were all parade ring negatives pulling or on their toes. 

14:52 I know it doesn't take much but I am confused by that last race. According to the information I have an extended three mile hurdle should be run over 14 flights - only 13 were jumped in this race.

Anyway the race went to the favourite Via Archimede who made all coming home a three length winner.

Auberge was in second spot for most of the contest and had to settle for a share of second in a dead heat with Hotgrove Boy.

15:04 Our final contest over obstacles is the Country Refreshments Kilmany Cup Handicap Chase over three miles with ten off to face the starter.

15:18 A brilliant ride from Richie McGrath on Everaad, a horse who clearly does not look like a chaser doing his best to get rid of his rider at most of the fences. Despire his mounts attempts to get his rider onto the Musselburgh turf McGrath bore no grudges and drove him on the run-in to just get him home on the line.

The denied runner was the mare More Equity who had taken up the running from the long time leader Safari Adventures before the last in the back straight.

Everaad was always handy but was always let down by his jumping only to rally between fences.

Kosta Brave came late, having been sharing last in the opening exchanges, to finish third.

Key Cutter was sent off favourite and although prominent never looked to be the winner, eventually finishing a disappointing seventh.   

15:28 The crowd this afternoon is 1,063, 8.8% up on last year

15:33 We conclude with the Country Refreshments Intermediate Open NH Flat Race a two mile contest with six off to post.

Touch Of Tweed is very much on her toes and was rearing.

15:47 A nice looking winner to the bumper in the shape of Keenland who made all to record a comfortable 3½ length victory.

He was certainly better looking than Harris Garden who was sent off the favourite but was disappointing, settled in last and coming home a never nearer third seven lengths behind the runner-up Phoenix Returns who was doing his best work in the closing stages.   

15:53 That's it from a sunny Musselburgh and it was nice to see it at its very best on a sunny afternoon, hopefully it will not be 3½ years before I return.

A couple of good looking McCain winners in the shape of Charminster and Keenland.

Now the little matter of a 7½ hour trip home - from Musselburgh a very good afternoon. 

 Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

13:40
6 If Only (not eaten up - SC 08:36)

14:10
1 Copper's Gold(infected foot - VC 09:03)

Results

12:40 Maiden Hurdle 2m

13:10 Beginners' Chase 2m

13:40 Selling Hurdle 2m

14:10 Handicap Chase 2m 4f

14:40 Handicap Hurdle 3m 110yds

15:10 Handicap Chase 3m

15:40 Open NH Flat 2m

6 Run