Martin Todhunter, who narrowly failed to land a major success with Kingsmark at Haydock on Saturday, heads to Musselburgh tomorrow with high hopes of going one better.
The Cumbrian trainer saddles my Nap selection Wayward Buttons in the Have A Happy Christmas Handicap Chase over three miles.
The former point-to-pointer has an excellent chance of gaining his second success of the season.
Todhunter placed the seven-year-old to win at Sedgefield last month when Wayward Buttons beat the odds-on favourite What A Wonder by five lengths.
Tomorrow's slightly longer distance and faster ground is expected to benefit Wayward Buttons, who can provide Todhunter - formerly travelling head-lad to the late, great Gordon Richards - with minor compensation for Kingsmark's slender defeat at the hands of Legal Right in Saturday's Tommy Whittle Chase.
Sir Lamb makes plenty of appeal in the Anne Grossick 'Photographer of The Year' Maiden Hurdle.
Trained at Middleham by Sally Hall, Sir Lamb failed by only a short head to beat Intersky Falcon at Sedgefield last month. That form was subsequently boosted by third-placed Barton Dante, who won at Catterick next time.
Sir Lamb, a bumper winner last term, will relish tomorrow's underfoot conditions and the step up to two-and-a-half miles. A promising horse, from a prolific winning family, he should be hard to beat.
The 'What's Up Boys' Novices' Chase is named after last year's winner, who has since won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
It is doubtful whether tomorrow's victor will reach quite those lofty heights, but No Kidding is a horse with a bright future, nevertheless, and he is fancied to oblige.
Alistair Charlton's gelding showed a good attitude to get the better of the smart Eponine by half-a-length over two miles at Catterick recently. He is likely to be even better suited by tomorrow's extra four furlongs.
Fife trainer Sue Bradburne, who has a fine record at Musselburgh , has good prospects of adding to her tally on the course courtesy of Bodfari Signet in the Christmas Party Selling Handicap Hurdle.
A previous winner here, Bodfari Signet has been running respectably in defeat recently and was far from disgraced when fourth to Pertino on unsuitable ground in a non-selling handicap at Kelso last time out. Tomorrow's drop in grade should serve him well.
At Hereford, recent Wincanton winner The Gene Genie has excellent prospects of following-up under Norman Williamson in the St Modwen Properties plc Handicap Hurdle.
Tomorrow's tips:
Musselburgh
12.20 Bodfari Signet, 12.50 Khayali, 1.20 Sir Lamb, 1.50 No Kidding, 2.20 Big Max, 2.50 Wayward Buttons (Nap), 3.20 Beckley.
Hereford
12.05 Helvetius, 12.35 Shannon Quest, 1.10 Thosewerethedays, 1.40 Running de Cerisy, 2.10 Four Mile Clump, 2.40 Silken Thomas, 3.10 The Gene Genie
- Tom O'Ryan's Nap selection for this afternoon's racing was Winning Pleasure (2.20 at Southwell).
Updated: 15:31 Monday, December 17, 2001
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