Musselburgh to host Cheltenham Festival trials card following racecourse rescue mission
Officials at the Scottish track have given the BHA the go-ahead to announce an extra meeting for this Sunday, February 10
MUSSELBURGH is to host its Cheltenham trials after all - despite the weather doing its best to sabotage their most valuable card of the year.
The £160,000 meeting that was due to take place last weekend will instead go ahead this Sunday, February 10.
An announcement by the BHA on Monday afternoon read that the Scottish racecourse had applied to stage the card at short-notice following its abandonment due to icy weather.
Exeter have saved the day in the south, with an extra day added to their meeting this Sunday.
The BHA press release said: "Musselburgh will stage an eight-race card on February 10, worth £160,000 and comprising a number of races originally lost from their Scottish Cheltenham Trials weekend.
"Exeter's existing fixture on Sunday, February 10 will now be extended to a two-day meeting with an additional six-race card worth £50,000 to be staged on Monday, February 11."
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The Musselburgh card is a meeting often targeted by Nicky Henderson, and last year saw the Seven Barrows maestro field classy sorts We Have A Dream, Claimantakinforgan and Mr Whipped.
This year trainers will have until midday on Tuesday to make their entries.
BHA head of racing Paul Johnson said: "With weather conditions looking set to improve this week, we have taken the opportunity to review whether it would be possible to stage additional jump fixtures in order to fill gaps that have appeared in the race programme due to abandonments.
"It is not always possible to find racecourses that are able to add jump fixtures in at short notice - but on this occasion, we were pleased to receive applications from Musselburgh and Exeter."