Gordon Elliott© Photo Healy Racing
There were three Irish-trained runners at Musselburgh this afternoon but they were unable to muster a victory including the long odds-on Burn The Evidence in the opener.
Gordon Elliott's charge proved disappointing in the Racing TV Cosmic Case Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle where the 2/9 favourite could only finish third behind The Player Queen.
The five-year-old was bidding for a hat-trick having landed a bumper on her previous visit to Scotland at Ayr last month and followed up in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse.
However, she didn’t find much when coming under a strong drive after two out, and Brian Hughes’ mount could only keep on at one pace on the run-in.
Harel Du Marais was sent off a 4/1 chance on his debut under for Stuart Crawford in the Racing TV-sponsored bumper but dropped away from over a furlong to finish sixth behind newcomer Neigh Botha, who justified good support from 14/1 into 15/2.
The Michael Miller-trained Deo Bellator (16/1) made little impression when last of the six finishers in the Watch On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (2.45).
