All set for super Sunday

THERE A RE not many courses in Britain and Ireland without the word heavy in their going description at present but Musselburgh is one ahead of its Cheltenham Festival Trials Day on Sunday.

The going is good to soft and while that may ease before raceday, the meeting is not in any doubt.

Clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: “We have no worries at present.

“The going is good to soft and it is supposed to be dry and cold tomorrow.

“On Friday a band of rain is coming, but the Met Office says we are pretty sheltered and could get between two to eight millimetres. Obviously the ground would ease if we got the upper end of that but then on Saturday it will be cold and windy.

“Believe it or not on Sunday there should be some sunshine.

“I spoke to Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls on Monday and they both want to have runners, but obviously it depends on the ground — they want a decent surface if they are coming up.”

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1million Crabbie’s Grand National on A pril 5.

Only two of the first six home last year have entries — the third Teaforthree, trained by Rebecca Curtis, and the sixth, David Pipe’s Swing Bill.

With last year’s 66-1 winner A uroras Encore retired, trainer Sue Smith relies on Mr Moonshine and Vintage Star.