Tiger eyes main prize

● Ellison bids for third win in feature race at Musselburgh

Eyes Of A Tiger bids to give Brian Ellison his third win in five years in Musselburgh’s feature race today.

The Malton raider faces nine rivals in the Trial Racing UK For Free Now Handicap Hurdle for a stable successful in the past with Dontpaytheferryman (2012) and Streets of Newyork (2015).

Eyes Of A Tiger led until fading into fifth in a valuable race over course and distance on New Year’s Day and Ellison said: “He’s in good form and he handled the track okay last time. He likes to be up there racing handily and we’re expecting him to run very well.”

Among the opposition to Eyes Of A Tiger is Paddy Brennan-ridden Stamp Your Feet, a rare runner at the East Lothian venue for Tom George who boasts a 36 per cent course strike-rate. Also in the lineup is Tim Easterby’s Ifandbutwhynot, one of a full book of seven rides for champion jockey Richard Johnson.

Nine runners go to post for the Celebrating 30 Years Of Jumps Racing At Musselburgh Handicap Chase including James Ewart’s course and distance scorer Civil Unrest.

Urban Kode can be trusted in the opening Racing Uk-sponsored handicap hurdle after turning in a much-improved effort at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day, when runner-up to the handy Dominada.

Flintham could be the shining light on a strong card at Chepstow.

Mark and Sara Bradstock absolutely adore this eightyear-old, who has won some nice prizes over hurdles over the last few years. But it is over fences that connections feel he will be at his most potent, even though he was pulled up in a race won by Native River on his sole try in November 2015.

Flintham must overcome a long absence – he has not been sighted since finishing down the field in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival – but the Bradstocks have put a lot of work into him at home, so he should be fit enough to do himself justice.

Shaama Grise made an accomplished British debut at Chepstow on 8 January and can kick on for the David Pipe operation in the 188Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

The French recruit finished runner-up in a two-mile mares’ handicap hurdle, in which the winner, Bobble Boru, had that little bit more dash on the run-in, so this step up to just shy of two and a half miles should suit her.