There are some unusual race times on the opening day of Musselburgh’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials weekend next month.

 

February sees the start of some ‘non-standard’ off times and the East Lothian track is involved with their opener due at 12.57pm and other races set to start at the likes of 1.31pm, 3.52pm and 4.26pm.

 

The initiative is to try to help balance, and spread out, the overall schedule on busy days when there are more than four meetings in Britain and Ireland.

 

News too of a change to conditions of the prestigious £30,000 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on 13th February as it is be run as a limited handicap.

 

It is a 2m 2f race with a rich history and an illustrious roll of honour so it will be fascinating to see how it performs this year.

 

Some cracking hurdlers have won the Morebattle but it produced an almighty shock in 2010 when Nicky Henderson’s 1-14 hot-pot Zaynar was turned over by Quwetwo.

 

Action in Scotland this week takes place at Ayr on Monday when Ard Chros could bid to follow up an all-the-way strike at the Craigie course on 2nd January in the novices’ handicap chase.

 

Having fallen in his previous two starts, Stuart Coltherd’s Selkirk raider could be worth following now he has got his jumping act together.

 

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

 

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