Having gained permission to take a day off from Norton College, Nicky Tinkler celebrates his 16th birthday tomorrow by making his debut as an amateur rider at Musselburgh.

Son of former trainer and top jumps-jockey Colin Tinkler, Nicky will team-up with Penniless, owned by his father and trained by his uncle Nigel, in the Come Trotting In August Amateur Riders' Handicap over five furlongs.

Tinkler jnr has gained stacks of experience riding work for a whole variety of trainers, including Malton handler Brian Rothwell, for whom he regularly rides gallops before going to school.

Although three times a winner over five furlongs, Penniless has no more than a fighting chance tomorrow, but Nicky is nothing if not hopeful.

"She probably won't be good enough to win, but I think she'll run a decent race," he said, adding: "I am really looking forward to it. I can hardly wait."

While fingers are crossed for Penniless, a more likely winner is Silk Cottage, who scored at Newcastle recently.

Remaining at Musselburgh, the Nap selection is awarded to Technician, who shaped really well on his latest outing at Thirsk and who has run creditably on this course in the past.

He has become expensive to follow, still being a maiden at the age of four, but there is no doubt he has the ability to lift the Trotting Is Fun at Musselburgh Handicap over seven furlongs.

Borgia can prove the star of the show on the opening day of Newmarket Guineas meeting by winning the £60,000 Sagitta Jockey Club Stakes.

Trained in France by Andrew Fabre, who has a fine record in major events in England, Borgia will have the services of Olivier Peslier, winner of last year's Epsom Derby on High-Rise.

Borgia was restricted to only two outings last season, but her recent comeback effort at Saint-Cloud, where she was runner-up to Barbola over an inadequate mile and a quarter, suggests she may be on her way back to something like her best.

Two seasons ago Borgia won the German Derby and was an excellent third behind Peintre Celebre and Pilsudski in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe.

She still has a long way to go to recapture that form but few people at Newmarket, not least the bookmakers, will be prepared to take a chance on her falling short in this Group 2 contest.

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation will be back in action at this meeting with a host of runners who have wintered in Dubai.

Mukhalif bids for the Green Ridge Stables Newmarket Stakes. Unbeaten in both his outings last season, at Leicester and Ascot, Mukhalif is a horse with unlimited potential. A son of Caerleon, he could go right to the top this year.

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