NEARLY £230,000 will be up for grabs in the first flat fixture of the season at Musselburgh Racecourse tomorrow (Saturday).
The tote Easter Saturday Race Day is the most lucrative of the 16-fixture programme taking place over the summer months.
Among the key races this weekend are the £100,000 tote Summer World Pool Queen’s Cup, and Scotland’s fastest horse race – the £45,000 tote World Pool Scottish Sprint Cup.
Other top fixtures during the flat season – which stretches to mid-October – include the Edinburgh Cup on June 3, Friday Night at the Races on August 4, and the Stobo Castle Ladies Day seven days later.
Bill Farnsworth, Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, said: “On Saturday the £100,000 Queen’s Cup is supported by one of our most popular races, the Scottish Sprint Cup, which at just five furlongs is a frenetic burst of action which has the crowd on its feet.
“The track is in tip-top condition and we are looking forward to the first fixture in what promises to be an exciting season of summer racing.”
Ahead of Saturday’s inaugural meeting, Teed Up, prominent in the ante-post betting market, could be a rare runner on the flat at Musselburgh for Emmet Mullins in the Queen’s Cup contest over 1m 6 furlongs (3.35pm).
Andrew Balding has already booked Callum Hutchinson for the ride on Spirit Mixer, a half-length runner-up to Trueshan in last June’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, while three-time course winner Wise Eagle represents Bamburgh trainer Adam Nicol, and there is plenty of Scottish interest with Jim Goldie responsible for four entries and Keith Dalgleish three.
Makanah, a neck second in last year’s renewal when the race was staged in June, is one of 18 entries for the £45,000 tote World Pool Scottish Sprint Cup (3pm). Trained by Julie Camacho, the Malton raider is a three-time Musselburgh scorer.
Triple champion jockey Oisin Murphy could be in action as he is down to ride Ed Walker-trained Came From The Dark, who was competing in Group races last season, and Graham Lee is also pencilled in, in his case, to partner top-weight Burning Cash for Paul Midgley.
Gates open on Saturday at 11.30am, first race is off at 1.50pm and last race at 5.20pm.
For more information and to book, visit musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk
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