Busy weekend starts off with two runners at Musselburgh Saturday

If four days of constant rain doesn't produce soft ground at Musselburgh then..............

The sandy base of the East Lothian track means that even in Winter the going is inevitably on the fast side, which doesn't really suit our yard. However, that means Saturdays easy ground conditions can't be used as an excuse for our two entries. So in chronological order :

Stainsby Girl is top weight in the 2 mile handicap hurdle at 3.13 where she faces 5 opponents. It's just possible that the majority of the runners were entered on the premise of a sound, if not fast, surface and will face somewhat different conditions. That's the theory anyway.

In addition to our mare there are at least a couple of horses who like to make he running in Constancio and Caldwell with Sarvi never far away either. So it will be a brisk race.
Constancio has been on the go all through the summer, hitting the frame consistently and will prove a tough opponent. Caldwell was pulled up in a Class 2 handicap on seasonal debut recently (lost a shoe) but finished last season in a progressive manner when winning the Northern Lights Juvenile Final here in March.

Le Magnifique has also been racing during the summer on the flat but hasn't looked like regaining form in two runs following a wind operation. Likewise Sarvi has not been at his best on the flat these past couple of months. Both would need a return to their best to feature here but Sarvi is trained by Jim Goldie whose horses do improve for the application of cash (© Kevin O'Ryan of RTV).

Which leaves Lucinda's Musselburgh standing dish Gemologist. This will be her 18th race at the seaside course. A 36-race maiden but placed in over half of her 22 jumps races, she is now on her lowest handicap mark (OR97) and had a nice pipe-opener at Kelso recently following a wind-op.
Not out of this by any means and could pounce late from off the pace

Stainsby Girl is fit and well, so we hope she can be competitive for local owners Al & Helen. Craig Nichol takes the ride once again.

Stainsby Girl (Leah)

Following on from the success of their Jimmy's Jet at Ayr at the beginning of the week, owners Jimmy Fyffe & Rob Bewley run another bumper debutant in the last. Eden Mill is a year younger than their impressive Ayr winner and will face 4 others in the 4.23.

This is a 'newcomers' bumper and so to comply with the conditions of entry, none have run - not even in Points. So that rules out our Dodlandswise form analysis.....
Kinneston Nick runs Ginger Mail a Sinndar half brother to his own Elvis Mail, a useful hurdler/chaser and our own much loved useful bumper/hurdler/chaser Dali Mail. If he possesses that family ability, he'll be one to savour and could come into some good form later in the season..
Bex has engaged Brian Hughes for Kopa Kilana, a £30k half brother to a fairly useful French hurdler and the jockey booking is eye catching.
Laura Morgan sends up the flat-bred Walton's Grove from her Leicestershire base. This is a winning family and the dam is a half-sister to 1998 Dante winner Saratoga Springs. Likely favourite.
The sole female in the race is Phil Kirby's Martaline fily Martalindy who looks the type to improve with time.

Eden Mill has been showing up quite well, and was another we took to Musselburgh 2 or 3 weeks back for a post race gallop. Still, we think he'll improve for the experience but he's another well made gelding for his owners. Callum Bewley rides and best of luck to him and Jimmy & Rob.

Eden Mill (Joanna)