'He still has some improvement in him off his mark' - Grand National possibles line up for Edinburgh equivalent at Musselburgh

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The value of a neat-jumping prominent racer has been borne out in many top handicap chases this season. With Musselburgh's sharp nature and the size of the field assembled for the Edinburgh National, keeping out of trouble will be important.

There are a significant number of pace angles here. Cartonne and Lord Accord like to go forward, while King Turgeon has executed forceful tactics to brilliant effect with wins in the Grand Sefton and on Cheltenham’s December card. The golden spell ended in the Somerset National, and now he must last out another five furlongs.

Bretney has enjoyed a marvellous 12 months and made all in the Borders National last time. A career-high mark and rise in class may prove his undoing, while Inis Oirr, who sports first-time blinkers, is effectively back on the mark from which he bolted up by 21 lengths from the front in the previous running when Alan Doyle’s 5lb claim is factored in.

Patrick Wadge seemingly prefers the novice Cadell, who needs to bounce back following a lesser showing on unsuitably soft conditions in a Grade 2 at Sandown.

Surrey Quest proved his suitability for marathon tests when losing on the nod in the Scottish National and his market position is understandable.

He unseated in the Mandarin last time, but that followed an eyecatching finishing effort in a long-distance chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting. The concern is whether he will become rushed off his feet early, as he was for much of the journey at Cheltenham.

Another with abundant stamina reserves is 2023 Edinburgh National scorer Magna Sam, who caught the eye with a resurgent performance at Doncaster last month.

Breathing was presumably to blame for Magna Sam's prior disappointments that dated back to his good fifth in the Scottish National later that season from 3lb wrong. He is attractively handicapped with first-time cheekpieces deployed.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Pipe looks to King to reign in National

If the journey is 430 miles and takes seven and a half hours in a car, let alone a horsebox, it is no wonder Somerset trainer David Pipe has had only one runner at Musselburgh since 2016.

But he had a good record with those he used to send in the days he trained for Scottish-based owners Jo and Sean Tracey, and is five from 13 over jumps, including a double on Cheltenham Trials day in 2011.

He has also won with one of just three Flat runners at Musselburgh and is returning with King Turgeon, who runs in the bet365 Edinburgh National just 17 days after finishing third in the Somerset National much closer to home at Wincanton.

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David Pipe: trainer of King TurgeonCredit: Harry Trump

The chaser had won each of his three previous starts and Pipe said: "He's going for the better ground and we're trying a new trip with him.

"He's had a fantastic season, and each race he's put in a career best. If he was to be there at the finish again, he'd have to put in another career best. But he appears in good form."

King Turgeon's second win of this season came in the Grand Sefton at Aintree and another victory would boost his chance of rising enough in the handicap to make the cut in the Randox Grand National, for which the weights are published a week on Tuesday.

"He has an entry and if that happens it's a conversation we'd have to have with the owner," Pipe said. "But we'll see what happens at Musselburgh first."

What they say

Toby Lawes, trainer of Surrey Quest
I've been delighted with him all season. It was a bit unfortunate last time as he didn't give his jockey a chance. He came out of it well and his schooling since has been great. It will be quite good fun giving a race like this a go. The basic aim for the season is to head back to the Scottish National, but if he goes up enough we would look at the Grand National.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Manothepeople
He's a similar type to Captain Cattistock, who won this race and was placed in it for us, but this looks a stronger race and he's probably not on a favourable mark, but we think the dry ground and extreme trip will be in his favour.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Cadell and Inis Oirr
Inis Oirr won it last year when he was wearing a visor for the first time. We've put different headgear on him this time and he must go right-handed. Cadell is still a novice over fences and must have good ground, so this is as close as we are going to get through winter. He still has some improvement in him off his mark.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Anglers Crag
I thought he ran really well at Market Rasen. He's in really good form at the moment, so we're hoping for a good run. He's won over three miles at the track, but obviously he's gone up a lot in the weights since then.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Lord Accord
He's been running well and has had a great season. His owners live nearby, so hopefully he can run well. He jumps and he stays and he'd like the nice ground.

Henry Daly, trainer of Bretney
He appears to like these extended trips and Nationals north of the border. To be honest, I was staggered when he won off 94, so he's got a lot further than I thought he would. Going up in trip really appears to have played to his strengths.
Reporting by David Carr and Maddy Playle

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