Racecourse Guide

Musselburgh
National Hunt

East Lothian, Scotland · Scotland’s biggest Cheltenham trials day

⬤ National Hunt
Turf
Right-Handed
Sharp, Flat

Shape

Right-Handed Oval shared w/ Flat

Track Type

Sharp, Flat

Fences

8 per circuit

Hurdles

6 per circuit

Home Straight

4 fences

Run-in

150yd short

Direction

Right-handed

Course Highlight

Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial Listed

Also at Musselburgh

Musselburgh also stages Flat turf racing. Read the Flat racecourse guide →

Course Overview

What is Musselburgh like as a jumps track?

Musselburgh’s jumps course shares the same right-handed oval as its Flat track, though the chase/hurdle circuit runs slightly longer due to fence and hurdle wings rather than being a genuinely separate layout. Each circuit brings 8 fences — 4 in each straight, including two open ditches (the third fence in the back straight, and the second fence after turning for home). No source confirms a water jump on this course, and given how consistently sources itemise the two open ditches without ever mentioning one, it most likely doesn’t have one — though we can’t rule it out entirely. Hurdle races run over 6 flights per circuit, 3 in each straight.

The defining NH characteristic here is the combination of a genuinely short run-in — around 150 yards — with the same sharp bends that shape the Flat course. That combination strongly favours front-runners and prominent racers: there simply isn’t the room for a held-up horse to get organised and deliver a challenge, and hold-up types can get “disappointed” as a result. Jump racing became an established, regular fixture from 1987, though one source records an isolated NH meeting as early as 1967 — an unresolved conflict we flag rather than silently pick a side on.

The Chase Course

Circuit Right-handed, shares the Flat oval’s footprint (slightly longer due to fence/hurdle wings)
Fences 8 per circuit, 4 per straight, including two open ditches; no water jump confirmed
Run-in Around 150 yards — genuinely short by national standards
Character Front-runners and handy types strongly favoured; hold-up horses often found wanting for room

Scotland’s Biggest Cheltenham Trials Meeting

Scottish Trials Day The Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial and Scottish County Hurdle share a card worth around £430,000
Status Described as Scotland’s largest Cheltenham-trials meeting
History Jump racing became a regular fixture from 1987, though one source cites an isolated 1967 meeting

Notable Races

When does Musselburgh race?

Listed · February

Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial

For juvenile hurdlers. A recognised Cheltenham Festival trial — recent alumni linked to the meeting include Frodon, Greaneteen, and Mighty Thunder.

Class 2 Handicap Hurdle · February

Scottish County Hurdle

Run on the same Scottish Trials Day card, part of a meeting worth around £430,000 — Scotland’s largest Cheltenham-trials fixture.

Class 2 Handicap Chase · February

bet365 Edinburgh National

About 3m7½f. Musselburgh’s marquee staying chase — and NOT the Scottish Grand National, which is run at Ayr.

Pace Bias

Do front-runners win at Musselburgh?

No quantified strike-rate or A/E data for NH pace bias was available for Musselburgh — a genuine gap we flag rather than paper over. What is consistently reported, across multiple sources, is a strong qualitative reputation: the short ~150-yard run-in combined with sharp bends means front-runners and prominent racers are heavily favoured, while hold-up horses are routinely found wanting for the room to finish their race off.

Run Style Bias — Qualitative Only

▲ Front-runners / Prominent

Favoured — short run-in leaves little time to be caught

▼ Hold-up

Struggles — often found wanting for room to finish

Treat this bias-box as directional — a reading of how the track rides rather than statistical fact. No dataset backs these bars the way it does at some other courses in this guide series.

Statistics · Since 2010

Which trainers and jockeys win most at Musselburgh?

Trainer	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Russell, Miss Lucinda V	828	99	11.96%	254	30.68%	0.91	-214.50
2 McCain Jnr, D	468	99	21.15%	198	42.31%	1.00	+8.76
3 Thomson, A M	240	44	18.33%	94	39.17%	1.08	+9.90
4 Nicholls, P F	106	37	34.91%	57	53.77%	1.20	+27.67
5 Alexander, N W	275	30	10.91%	87	31.64%	0.92	-103.24
6 Richards, N G	187	24	12.83%	60	32.09%	0.76	-26.55
7 Jardine, I	264	23	8.71%	83	31.44%	0.67	-127.67
8 Goldie, J S	250	23	9.20%	60	24.00%	0.92	-50.09
9 Ellison, B	222	23	10.36%	63	28.38%	0.67	-87.82
10 Menzies, Rebecca	140	20	14.29%	47	33.57%	0.99	+42.65
11 Sayer, Mrs Dianne	171	16	9.36%	41	23.98%	0.97	+14.13
12 Henderson, N J	45	14	31.11%	24	53.33%	0.93	-1.23
13 Kirby, P A	110	13	11.82%	26	23.64%	0.90	-34.59
14 Vaughan, Tim	82	12	14.63%	31	37.80%	0.81	-23.42
15 Morgan, Miss Laura	46	12	26.09%	18	39.13%	1.21	+17.18
16 Grant, C	170	11	6.47%	48	28.24%	0.65	-96.75
17 Quinn, J J	58	11	18.97%	25	43.10%	0.75	-9.84
18 Ferguson, J P	38	11	28.95%	20	52.63%	0.98	+0.79
19 Coltherd, W S	107	10	9.35%	22	20.56%	0.96	+19.16

Musselburgh NH, since 2010. Donald McCain Jnr is the reliable one at volume — 99 winners from 468 at 21.15%, a level A/E 1.00 and +£8.76. Paul Nicholls raids rarely and hard: 37 winners from 106 at 34.91%, A/E 1.20 and +£27.67, the best value figure on the page. A M Thomson (A/E 1.08) is also in profit. Lucinda Russell shares the winner lead but returns A/E 0.91 for a £214.50 deficit. Oppose C Grant (170 runners, A/E 0.65) and Brian Ellison (222, A/E 0.67). Below the table, P D Niven has returned +£17.75 from 58 at A/E 1.29.
musselburgh NH · Current trainers, since 2010

Jockey	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Hughes, Brian	686	127	18.51%	291	42.42%	0.89	-143.88
2 Nichol, Craig	314	37	11.78%	82	26.11%	0.93	-65.25
3 Mania, Ryan	201	36	17.91%	75	37.31%	1.32	+34.30
4 Fox, Derek R	252	35	13.89%	73	28.97%	1.09	+17.06
5 McMenamin, Daniel	187	25	13.37%	56	29.95%	0.92	-57.00
6 Quinlan, Sean	223	20	8.97%	65	29.15%	0.71	-25.32
7 O’Farrell, C	173	20	11.56%	59	34.10%	0.97	-20.86
8 Reveley, James	132	19	14.39%	53	40.15%	1.07	-20.01
9 Cobden, Harry	34	16	47.06%	22	64.71%	1.61	+22.87
10 O’Regan, Denis	75	13	17.33%	30	40.00%	0.96	+4.29
11 Bewley, Callum	189	12	6.35%	37	19.58%	0.65	-77.00
12 Costello, Dougie	67	11	16.42%	24	35.82%	0.96	+19.00
13 Doyle, Alan	63	10	15.87%	16	25.40%	1.49	+32.46
14 McLernon, R P	44	10	22.73%	16	36.36%	1.88	+22.26
15 Hamilton, Jamie	107	9	8.41%	26	24.30%	0.84	-17.62
16 Moscrop, Nathan	95	9	9.47%	26	27.37%	0.83	+7.75
17 Mulqueen, S	165	8	4.85%	38	23.03%	0.62	-110.99
18 Coltherd, Sam W	123	8	6.50%	21	17.07%	0.72	-68.17
19 Gillard, Mr T	48	8	16.67%	18	37.50%	1.23	-1.00
20 Chapman, Ross	111	7	6.31%	32	28.83%	0.51	-75.30

Musselburgh NH, since 2010. Ryan Mania is the standout — 36 winners from 201 at 17.91%, A/E 1.32 and +£34.30, comfortably the sharpest rider figure here — with Derek Fox also in profit at A/E 1.09. Brian Hughes has the most winners (127) at A/E 0.89 and a £143.88 deficit. Below the table, R P McLernon has returned +£22.26 from 44 rides at A/E 1.88 and Alan Doyle +£32.46 from 63 at 1.49. Oppose S Mulqueen (165 rides, A/E 0.62) and Callum Bewley (189, A/E 0.65).
musselburgh NH · Current riders, since 2010

Sire Statistics · Since 2010

Which sires do best at Musselburgh?

Sire	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Beneficial	182	27	14.84%	55	30.22%	1.06	-8.93
2 Oscar (IRE)	118	23	19.49%	46	38.98%	1.11	-2.09
3 Presenting	157	22	14.01%	56	35.67%	0.78	-35.71
4 Milan	135	20	14.81%	41	30.37%	1.02	-32.92
5 Getaway (GER)	103	17	16.50%	38	36.89%	0.98	-17.11
6 Westerner	83	17	20.48%	33	39.76%	1.19	+29.84
7 Kayf Tara	105	13	12.38%	28	26.67%	0.73	-31.11
8 Court Cave (IRE)	95	13	13.68%	32	33.68%	0.91	-17.33
9 Yeats (IRE)	80	13	16.25%	28	35.00%	1.06	+3.50
10 Malinas (GER)	47	12	25.53%	22	46.81%	1.55	+24.50
11 Shirocco (GER)	74	11	14.86%	30	40.54%	0.91	+20.41
12 Beat Hollow	73	10	13.70%	16	21.92%	1.24	+16.88
13 Doyen (IRE)	56	10	17.86%	25	44.64%	1.10	+2.46
14 Shantou (USA)	51	10	19.61%	19	37.25%	1.18	-4.31
15 Fame And Glory	43	10	23.26%	17	39.53%	1.49	+2.18
16 Flemensfirth (USA)	102	9	8.82%	22	21.57%	0.65	-54.90
17 Gold Well	69	9	13.04%	25	36.23%	0.84	-16.65
18 Definite Article	45	9	20.00%	14	31.11%	1.57	+27.10
19 Brian Boru	41	9	21.95%	11	26.83%	1.47	+7.10
20 Mahler	76	8	10.53%	22	28.95%	0.76	-22.67

Musselburgh NH, since 2010. A flat page at the top: Oscar (A/E 1.11), Beneficial (1.06) and Milan (1.02) are all around fair value and none is in profit. Presenting is the one to oppose at A/E 0.78 across 157 runners. The value is on shorter books below the table — Definite Article has returned +£27.10 from 45 runners at A/E 1.57, Malinas +£24.50 from 47 at 1.55 and Fame And Glory A/E 1.49 from 43. On a sharp, flat, fast track the pure stamina sires do not hold the edge they hold further south.
musselburgh NH · Since 2010

How to read these tables. The figures are a first-party pull for this course and code covering runs since 1 January 2010, taken as a snapshot rather than updated live. A/E compares actual wins with the wins implied by starting price, so a figure above 1.00 means the group has won more often than its SP suggested. P/L is profit or loss to £1 win stakes at starting price.

Insider Knowledge

Betting Angles

🏇

Front-Runners and Handy Types Rule Here

The short ~150-yard run-in and sharp bends mean hold-up horses are routinely found wanting.

📈

The Value Sits Below the Volume Yards

Miss Lucinda V Russell leads the page on volume (A/E 0.91), though the market prices that in; the real value signals are P F Nicholls (A/E 1.20, +£27.67) and Miss Laura Morgan (A/E 1.21, +£17.18). Oppose the over-bet C Grant (A/E 0.65), I Jardine (A/E 0.67) and B Ellison (A/E 0.67).

🎯

Watch for Paul Nicholls’s Rare Raids

A solid 26.5% strike rate (13 from 49) on his rare trips this far north, though the market prices him fairly (A/E 0.99) — worth noting when he travels rather than backing blind.

👑

Jim Goldie Is the All-Time Name

53 career winners — the most successful NH trainer in the course’s history.

🏆

Ryan Mania Is the Standout Rider

Brian Hughes leads the riders on volume (A/E 0.89), though the market prices that in; the real value signals are Ryan Mania (A/E 1.32, +£34.30), Alan Doyle (A/E 1.49, +£32.46) and Derek Fox (A/E 1.09, +£17.06). Oppose the over-bet Callum Bewley (A/E 0.65) and Sean Quinlan (A/E 0.71).

🐎

Westerner Heads the Sire Angles

Beneficial tops the sire list and beats the market too (A/E 1.06); the real value signals are Westerner (A/E 1.19, +£29.84), Definite Article (A/E 1.57, +£27.10) and Malinas (GER) (A/E 1.55, +£24.50). Oppose the over-bet Flemensfirth (USA) (A/E 0.65), Kayf Tara (A/E 0.73) and Mahler (A/E 0.76).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting to pounce from off the pace at Musselburgh. The run-in is genuinely short — around 150 yards — and paired with sharp bends it routinely leaves hold-up horses without room to finish; no dataset quantifies the exact scale, but the direction is consistently reported, so back the shape, not a number.
Writing off Scottish Trials Day as a minor regional card. Recent Triumph Hurdle Trial alumni here include Frodon, Greaneteen and Mighty Thunder — a genuine Cheltenham pipeline runs through Musselburgh, so respect the form out of this card rather than discount it.
Backing the busiest yard on winner count alone. Lucinda Russell leads on volume but at A/E 0.91 the market prices her in — P F Nicholls (A/E 1.20) and Miss Laura Morgan (A/E 1.21) are the real value signals when they send one north.

Common Questions

Musselburgh Racecourse FAQs

Is there a pace bias at Musselburgh over jumps?

Yes, though it’s qualitative rather than quantified: the short ~150-yard run-in and sharp bends strongly favour front-runners and prominent racers, with hold-up horses often found wanting for room to finish.

Is the bet365 Edinburgh National the same as the Scottish Grand National?

No. They’re different races — the Scottish Grand National runs at Ayr, not Musselburgh.

When did jump racing start at Musselburgh?

Most sources say 1987, when it became an established regular fixture, though one source records an isolated meeting as early as 1967.

Does Musselburgh’s chase course have a water jump?

This isn’t confirmed either way. Sources consistently describe two open ditches but don’t mention a water jump, suggesting it most likely doesn’t have one.

Explore

Other Jumps Tracks

Ayr

Scotland’s premier jumps track and home of the Scottish Grand National.

Newcastle

Left-handed, a sustained uphill climb defines the finish.

Catterick

Sharp left-handed oval, similarly compact and quick.

Perth

Britain’s most northerly racecourse, in Scone Palace Park.

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MusselburghNational Hunt