Racing Review - The Scottish Flat Season Finale 2025

Our Flat Season Finale started off rather soggily, with the early deluge of November rain changing the going from soft, good to soft to soft all-round. However, as gates opened, it did dry up a little and the sunshine even attempted to make an appearance for us. With most dual tracks having already changed to their winter NH schedules, our finale proved a great chance for lots of trainers to let their stable stars have one last flat run before moving across to all weather racing or having a well-deserved winter off. Plus, with some tasty prize money on offer, the bigger fields meant things were ultra-competitive, both in individual races, and also in our Championships, with both champion jockey and trainer titles still up for grabs! 

Our first race saw favourite “Wen Moon” lead throughout, his top weight seemingly not bothering him as he picked up his first win at Musselburgh for Ben Haslam under Jason Hart. 

In our £30K EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes, Newmarket trainer Gay Kelleway certainly fancied taking the spoils, saddling three runners out of eleven in the 7f race. Favourite “Blakefell” put up a tough battle as expected, but it was Kelloway’s “India Gold” at 40/1 who finished first by half a length, making the long trip north to us worthwhile! 

The Close Brothers Energy Finance Handicap Stakes saw the first photo finish of the day. Jim Goldie’s favourite “Dwindling Funds” was hopeful of improving massively on his previous two starts at Musselburgh but was pipped at the post by course newcomer Richard Fahey’s “Sailthisshipalone”, notching up his first win since 2023. A drop in class looks to have been the right move for this gelding 

A going change from soft to soft, heavy in places didn’t stop front-running “Velvet Whisper”, who sauntered home under Archie Young in our Balfour Beatty Power Handicap Stakes over 12f. The 3/1F filly has improved steadily over the summer since her wind surgery, and after her Redcar win in October, also under heavy conditions, she is now on the hunt for a hat-trick for trainer Edward Bethell. This mudlark could well be one to watch out for here next season! 

In a bit of a messy race, which saw Claymore Racing’s “John L Sullivan” miss the start and pull up, Craig Lidster’s “Blufferonthebus” prevailed & edged home for the win, closely followed by Mick & David Easterby’s course & distance winner “Carolus Magnus”.  

The Thank You And Good Luck Persia Handicap Stakes (named for our wonderful ops exec who is moving on to exciting new things) saw lots of previous Musselburgh winners turn up, including our twice-winning Silver Arrow champ “Gweedore”, Jim Goldie’s course-loving pair “Yaaser” and “Kelpie Grey” and filly “Bellarchi”, who has won on her last two stints here. In another scintillating photo finish, Katie Scott & Lamont Racing were once again the victorious pair, with “Gweedore” notching up his 7th win here. Very fitting for an equine Musselburgh legend to win the race named for our very own Ops legend!  

Our final race saw a lengthy win for Billy Garrity on “Quercus Robur”, giving Adam Nicol’s 6yo gelding an impressive win on his first run here for owners Molly & Paul Willis. Hopefully we’ll see him back here again come spring! 

Before the lucky last, we were also delighted to announce our 2025 Championship Winners. Nick Bradley Racing took the Owners title, with an impressive seven wins this season. Our Jockeys Championship prize was split between three outstanding riders, Paul Mulrennan, Sam James and Joe Fanning, who notched up a massive 9 winners each this season. Paul also had the kudos of being 2025 Winning Jockey at Ayr & Hamilton too, making him the undisputed Scottish flat champ! Jim Goldie’s yard took the two remaining prizes, with Glasgow-based Goldie topping off a cracking season by winning yet another Trainer’s Championship at Musselburgh, and his hard-working team of grafters earning The Best Turned Out Yard Championship title. Congratulations to everyone!  

All that remains is to thank every single one of you who came along & supported Musselburgh Racecourse this season! For those of you (like me!) who can’t wait for the Jumps to start, we hope to see you on Fri 28th November for our Start of the Jumps fixture. And for our die-hard flat fans, April 2026 will be here before you know it!