Keith Dalgleish has started 2020 in great style following his record-breaking 2019 when he saddled no less than 118 winners.

 

It was a personal best for the Carluke handler and the highest ever in a calendar year (Flat and jumps combined) for a trainer based in Scotland.

 

Eighty of the remarkable haul were on the Flat and his previous overall top tally of 105 was achieved in 2017.

 

The win of Highway Companion at Musselburgh on Friday was Keith’s fifth win of the new year and he looks set for plenty more in the months ahead as he has a powerful string of well over 100 horses at his disposal.

 

Musselburgh’s next action is the two-day Bet365 Scottish Cheltenham Trials meeting on 1st and 2nd February when Sandy Thomson’s Seeyouatmidnight could make a remarkable return from retirement in the hunters’ chase.

 

‘Midnight’ hasn’t been seen in public since finishing eleventh behind Tiger Roll in the 2018 Grand National at Aintree.

 

Now twelve, he has come back sound following the suspensory ligament problems that forced his ‘retirement’ and, all being well, he may end up at the Cheltenham and Aintree Spring festivals.

 

Racing at Ayr on Sunday sees championship chasing pair Richard Johnson and Brian Hughes both in action on the seven-race card.

 

Four-time champ Johnson has four booked rides while Hughes, bidding to become the first northern-based northern top dog since Jonjo O’Neill exactly forty years ago, rocks up for three mounts.

 

We are delighted to be supporting Heart Research UK’s Heart of Scotland Appeal prize draw. We have donated a fantastic prize. Please go to https://heartofscotland.org.uk/prizedraw to buy your raffle tickets. The draw will take place on Monday 20th January.

 

Don’t forget to check out our Twitter feed (@ScottishRacing) and www.scottishracing.co.uk for all the latest news.