Two days to go until New Year's Day Racemeeting supported by Fitzdares

Musselburgh Racecourse welcomes in 2023 with its traditional New Year’s Day meeting featuring a £104,000 six race card.

Connections of Voix De Reve have their eyes on first prize in the £30,000 Fitzdares Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (2.45pm).

Trained in Dumfriesshire and carrying the black and white striped silks of Tyneside owner David Armstrong, the Iain Jardine-trained eleven-year-old faces ten rivals in a typically fiercely contested renewal of the two-mile event.

David Armstrong said: “I’m coming up and looking forward to seeing him run well. He shouldn’t mind the ground and he’s been second a couple of times at Musselburgh including when beaten in a photo-finish in this race two years ago.”

Donald McCain, winning trainer in 2021 with 22-1 chance Blakeney Point, is represented by Nayati partnered by dual champion jockey Brian Hughes, and Collingham, whose owner Jimmy Fyffe landed the 2018 and 2020 renewals with Sir Chauvelin.  

First Impression, third twelve months ago to impressive winner Tommy’s Oscar, is another interesting contender along with Lucinda Russell pair Thereisnodoubt and Cuban Cigar.

The Fitzdares “Auld Reekie” Handicap Chase (1.35pm) also carries £30,000 in prize money and Grade 2 winner Minella Drama, on a BHA mark of 145 for Donald McCain and Brian Hughes, heads the weights on 12st.

Pay The Piper, second in the Frodon Novices’ Chase at Musselburgh’s Cheltenham Trials meeting in February, is saddled by Northumberland permit-holder Ann Hamilton, who won this race in 2020 with Nuts Well, while Selkirk father and son combination, Stuart and Sam Coltherd, team up with Cooper’s Cross, a gallant third at Aintree in early December.

With 15mm of rain on Friday morning, the going at the East Lothian track has been updated from good to soft to good to soft in places and racecourse general manager Bill Farnsworth is advising racegoers to wrap up well for the first meeting of the new year.

The popular race day also features the return of one of the world’s oldest athletic traditions, the New Year Sprint, a 110m dash with keenly contested top prize of £3,500.

Bill Farnsworth added: “We are looking forward to welcoming our first foots at the New Year’s Day meeting which is being supported by Fitzdares for the first time.

“It’s a great way to blow away the Hogmanay cobwebs and with competitive racing including two £30,000 features we would advise racegoers to book their ticket in advance.”

Gates open on Sunday at 10.30am and the first race is at 12.25pm. For further information visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk