Menzies confident that Lihyan and Maggs can combine again for Musselburgh win

Rebecca Menzies is looking for more course success from recent impressive winner Lihyan at Musselburgh this afternoon.

The County Durham raider, again ridden by William Maggs, is likely to go off favourite for the tote.co.uk Your First Place For Racing Handicap Hurdle, which is a qualifier for the Go North Cab On Target Series.

“He was always capable of producing a performance like that and hopefully it will have done his confidence the world of good,” said Menzies, who is based close to Sedgefield racecourse but has high hopes in East Lothian.

One of main threats to another win for Lihyan is Sandy Thomson-trained Leading Force, while Donald Mccain’s top-weight Heartbreak Kid was in front when running out early on at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.

The card gets underway with the Tote Placepot, Win Without A Winner Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Stuart Coltherd-trained Deep Charm could be the one to beat following victories at Sedgefield and over course and distance.

The most valuable race of the day is the £12,000 New Tote Multiples Only On-course Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase which sees Lucinda Russell double-handed with Garde Des Champs and I Am Gonna Be.

Elsewhere today, James Owen's Love Tree can continue in good form in the Ludlow Junior "National Hunt" Hurdle.

The four-year-old has made a success of the season so far, placing second in two bumpers before making her hurdles debut over course and distance last month.

She was an impressive sevenand-a-half-length winner on that occasion and looks able to strike again on her second start over hurdles.

Malaita can make amends for a fall last time out in the Simply Delicious Cakes Novices' Handicap Chase.

The mare was placed behind Marsh Wren and La Renommee on her first two starts of the season and both of those horses have subsequently been placed themselves in Listed company.

She is proven over this trip and round this course and has a good jockey on board in Charlie Deutsch.

Meanwhile, the weather is still causing problems and Sandown's feature meeting tomorrow must survive an 8am precautionary inspection today. The going at the Esher venue is raceable but already very testing and more rain was expected to fall in the area last night.