Sunday’s meet at Musselburgh Racecourse is set to attract a stellar cast, with horses, trainers and jockeys keen to get practice in ahead of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

And the prospect of finding good ground is persuading 2012/13 champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson to send his horses to the county course.

He said: “We support this meeting every year. Going to Musselburgh is all about the ground. That’s the point in going there. We want good ground – there’s not much of that down here at the moment!” His principal quartet from 12 original entries for Sunday includes JCB Triumph Hurdle hope, the JP McManus-owned Hargam, who goes for the John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle after his first victory on British soil at Cheltenham’s pre-Christmas meeting, when the conditions were good to soft.

“AP [McCoy] just felt after his win in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trail at Cheltenham that he needed good ground,” Henderson added.

The handler is set to run two in the John Smith’s Scottish County Hurdle – Cool Macavity and Sweet Deal – both of whom are after good ground.

Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison nominates Racing Post Arkle Chase entry Yorkist as one of his three best chances at Sunday’s meeting.

Two wins and two runner-up spots since the seven-year-old’s last run at the Scottish track makes the Norton handler confident about his chances in the John Smith’s Scottish Future Champions Novices’ Chase.

And Ellison sung the praises of the course: “They do a great job for us both over jumps and on the Flat. “It’s a good track to run at and it’s excellent prize money.” And a strong representation from north of the Border will include Hawick trainer Alistair Whillans, fresh from sending out Samstown to victory in Haydock Park’s Peter Marsh Chase a fortnight ago.

He is readying Meadowcroft Boy, who has won half of his six starts, for the Listed John Smith’s Scottish County Hurdle.

Meanwhile, Fife trainer Nick Alexander will run Always Tipsy, who scored for the first time over hurdles at the East Lothian track’s most recent fixture after filling a runner-up spot at the New Year’s Day meeting, in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.

Bill Farnsworth, Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, said: “Scottish Cheltenham Trials day is our showpiece occasion of the jumps season and we’re looking forward to welcoming some hot-shots from south of the Border to take on a strong ‘home’ team.” The fixture traditionally attracts one of the racecourse’s larger attendances of the jumps season.

Visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk for tickets.