Musselburgh 31/7/26 - Check 1-2-3-4

Rock the 90s or summat was the theme night for this one and we set up in our usual spot facing the lawn as weather was set fair. For all of 5 mins, at least, as the sky went black and we were treated to a storm of semi biblical proportions. We looked anxiously over the stand from where the weather usually comes and were not encouraged in the slightest as the gloom appeared to stretch to Carlisle and the punters were scurrying for whatever cover was on offer. Brolly up and we offered a dry haven for those wishing to have a bet but it was more in hope than expectation. As it turned out it was only a 5 minute deluge and we were clear for the remainder of the evening.

Musselburgh is quite the ecletic set - I remember Boys Don't Cry and Lost Weekend on the pre race CD (about 10 songs on repeat) from yesteryear and it seemed the DJ in the tents got the memo as R&B followed Wham following The Eurythmics in unco-ordinated, yet strangely compelling fashion despite not having an affinity to any of them. Then they played Fools Gold - not sure if an omen of good fortune, given I've never heard The Stone Roses on a racetrack before, or ill portent as we were doomed to chase our illusory fortune. A bit of both as it turned out.

1) Jedhi Knight (additional "h" presumably for lack of copyright purposes), Falaise Blanc and Gemini Man (that one will disappear I confidently asserted but it appeared that our crowd were less familiar with short running C list 1980s American shows) were the bogeys and we got off to a flyer with the shortening, yet relatively unlaid, Sophiesticate which, fortunately, was not the choice of many Sophies.

2) Small win on Gerry's Darling over better winner, the drifting original favourite Hey Up Ronnie. Stood the bottom 3 in the market but felt we didn't get full reward, though places were bounteous in compensation.

3) A big slice of luck here as max (and smashed up) Bigalo hit 1.0something in running and was snagged on the line by absolute jackpot Bluestone Lady. We were flying.

4) At this point we met a lovely family from New Jersey. Dad was a Giants fan - I always ask. I mentioned Phil Simms, he mentioned Eli Manning, we agreed the former was better than the latter. As a lot of Americans do, they liked a forecast. Particularly Gran. Gran had a system. She liked consecutive numbers. I'm gonna say right now it's a muggy system. In this 5 runner race she reversed 1-2 and 3-4. 5 was left out to dry. We had another jackpot in the win book as 3 beat, er, 4. The unexpected forecast made something of a dent but we were still in high spirits.

5) Stood 4 of the 7. Absolute jackpot Misemerald looked a certainty in running but somehow failed to reel in the well bet (and max loss) Monhammer and joints were in danger of a kick. Gran expanded her system for this 7 runner. 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6. And to save you looking it up, 5 beat 6. Another leak from the CairnBet hull.

6) Inappropriate for all money. And it looked beaten by yet another jackpot Arrange. Until it wasn't and max loss number 2 was chalked up in quick succession. Fools Gold indeed. Still it was a 1-4 and at least we didn't lose on the forecast. Except we did, this time to a different punter.

7) Sigh. Thornaby Pearl a small winner but we didn't feel we got our whack given the take and to complete our, minor, misery it was 1-2 for Gran to take most of the profit on the win book back in our worst forecast result of the day. Sigh, again.

A relatively decent winning day but, after the start, morale was slumping slightly at a disappointing finish.

Onwards and upwards to Hamilton in our night meeting double header. Until then...