'I couldn't be happier with him' - will the Auld Reekie be won by the home team?

Sunday: 1.35 Musselburgh
Fitzdares "Auld Reekie" Handicap Chase | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

The southern yards that have often plundered this race in recent years – Paul Nicholls, Olly Murphy, Dan Skelton and Venetia Williams – have all stayed away, so this year's Auld Reekie is an entirely northern affair.

To say this is a less competitive renewal would be a touch rash, however, as in truth those trainers mentioned above rarely sent their most progressive sorts. All the right stables and horses are represented to suggest this is about as strong a 2m4f handicap chase as you would expect to see in the north at this time of year.

Where the race may lack is in terms of progressive sorts. All of the runners will turn nine, ten or 11 overnight and although plenty are not so heavily raced as to be deemed totally exposed, the likes of Minella Drama and Pay The Piper quickly reached a smart level over fences and have stayed there. It is of some interest that the former has never run at Musselburgh before, as his bold, occasionally free-going style should in theory suit the track.

Alongside those two, the most interesting runners are Cedar Hill and Cooper's Cross. The former won the Scottish Champion Chase here in February and has been shaping recently as though 2m4f is worth exploring again.

Cooper's Cross has the opposite issue. If he can keep up, he should go well but most of his form is at stiffer tracks. His two runs this season, a win at Carlisle and a gallant third to Brave Seasca at Aintree, arguably give him the best form claims in the field and he may well be able to give the Aintree winner a timely boost ahead of his run at Cheltenham 20 minutes later.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Jardine hopeful light weight will prove key

The last time that a Scottish trainer landed the Auld Reekie was in 2015, when Lucinda Russell saddled Reaping The Reward to victory, but the home team have a strong chance of bucking the trend this time.

Six of the nine runners declared are based in Scotland, including the hat-trick-seeking Half Shot, who returns to fences having won here over hurdles on his last start, and trainer Iain Jardine is hopeful his bottomweight can go well.

"Half Shot is in great form," Jardine said. "I wanted to have a crack at a better race with him, off a light weight, so fingers crossed. He handles the track very well and I think he can be competitive."

Jardine also relies on Gold Des Bois, who unseated when in second in this race last year, and the trainer is hopeful that the nine-year-old can replicate the form he's shown over two miles, over the longer trip.

"Gold Des Bois' best form is at two miles, but obviously it's an easy enough two and a half [miles] at Musselburgh and if he can settle and get into a rhythm I think he'll stay all right – he won a point-to-point," Jardine added.

"I'm hoping he'll run a big race, he seems to be working very well. He's been in fine form this season and ran a good race down at Cheltenham last time, so we're happy with him."

What they say

Stuart Coltherd, trainer of Cooper's Cross
He's well. He ran a big race at Aintree on his last start in a handicap, he hit the third-last quite hard and I'm not saying he'd have won it, but he'd have been a lot closer. When he won first time out this season at Carlisle the ground was on the softer side and he seemed to handle conditions there, so I think the soft ground should be okay. It's quite a sharp track around Musselburgh but he should be able to handle that, everything is looking okay for him. I couldn't be happier with him at this stage.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Baron De Midleton
He's in good fettle and the track will be fine for him but my worry is the ground. The reason you go to Musselburgh is there is usually better ground but it's soft at the minute and we're due to get a lot of rain overnight. He doesn't want it too soft so I'll have a look in the morning and decide then.
Reporting by Harry Wilson

Read more of Sunday's previews:

1.20 Cheltenham: 'I wouldn't swap him' - who is keen to take on Monmiral in a hot novice chase?

1.55 Cheltenham: 'We might see a different horse' - key quotes for tricky New Year's Day handicap

2.15 Tramore: 'We're delighted with him at home' - can Stattler see off a Gold Cup winner?

2.30 Cheltenham: Marie's Rock gifted 'handy allowance' on big-race return

3.05 Cheltenham: 'He looks overpriced at 10-1' - which trainer has high hopes at Cheltenham?

Fairyhouse: 'He should take to fences like a duck to water' - Mullins excited by Berlais

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