MUSSELBURGH Racecourse has attracted entries from the UK’s leading trainers for its Scottish Cheltenham Trials fixture this weekend

With more than £260,000 prize money over the weekend, champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Alan King, Charlie Longsdon and Donald McCain are all represented while top Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell leads the homegrown challenge.

Saturday will also see the first-ever running of the £40,000 Bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase, a four-mile prep race for the Grand National.

Bill Farnsworth, racecourse chief executive, said: “We like to try new things and the Edinburgh National will be the longest race ever staged at Musselburgh Racecourse.

"We usually have good ground, even in the winter, so this gives trainers a chance to run horses over four miles without the extra burden of facing soft or even heavy ground, which can be very demanding. With 20 entries it has been well supported by owners and trainers.”

In the day’s most valuable race, the £50,000 Bet365 Scottish County Hurdle (3.15) top weight is claimed by the Dan Skelton trained Optimus Prime, Somerset trainer Jeremy Scott could make a rare appearance at Musselburgh with form horse Unison, while shrewd punters could fancy Traditional Dancer and the partnership of trainer Iain Jardine and jockey Shane Shortall – the same combination which won this race last year with Shrewd.

In the Bet365 Scottish Triumph Juvenile Hurdle, Paul Nicholls has entered Cliffs of Dover which has won six out of his last seven starts over hurdles and which already holds an entry for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Royal trainer Charlie Longsdon sends The Queen’s horse, Forth Bridge, back to Musselburgh following its win over course and distance in December.

And on Sunday, Neil Mulholland will fancy Peter The Mayo Man, the highest rated horse in the Sky Bet Supreme Scottish Trial Novices’ Hurdle, and which has won its last three races, while Nicky Henderson’s River Wylde won both its last outings at Ludlow.

In the Pertemps Qualifier (4.10pm) Nicky Henderson has Barry Geraghty booked for the ride on Cup Final, which won the same race last year under the same jockey before going on to win at the Punchestown Festival.

Gates open on Saturday at 11am and 11.30am on Sunday, and first race is 12.25pm and 1.40pm respectively.