News Andrew Tinkler looking forward to high-profile Musselburgh card

Andrew Tinkler looking forward to high-profile Musselburgh card

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Andrew Tinkler has a stellar book of rides at Musselburgh's Cheltenham Trials Day on Sunday, with O O Seven the highlight.

Along with Nico de Boinville, Tinkler has been a beneficiary of Nicky Henderson's decision not to replace Barry Geraghty with a stable number one and to share the mounts out among his jockeys already based at Seven Barrows.

Tinkler has ridden O O Seven in five of his six races and was on board last time out when he lost nothing in defeat behind Willie Mullins' Cheltenham-bound Yorkhill in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

That was over two miles, but he steps up markedly in trip for the Albert Bartlett Scottish Trial over three miles.

Only four go to post but in opposition is Gordon Elliott's Fagan, a winner of two bumpers and a novice hurdle this season and owned by Ronnie Bartlett, head of the sponsoring company.

"O O Seven has done very little wrong in his life," said Tinkler.

"I've always been of the opinion that better ground will suit him too, so that's a bonus, and his run in the Tolworth was excellent. I think he bumped into a very good horse that day.

"The ground was very deep at Sandown which wouldn't be what he wants and he seems in very good heart at home.

"He's a gorgeous horse and he's going to make some chaser in time as he's improving with each race.

"This will be his first time over three miles, but he's been staying on over two miles and Musselburgh is a tight track. I think the trip should be within his compass.

"There are some nice horses against him - it is far from a walkover."

Richard Johnson is on Fagan and feels he is his best chance of a winner on the card.

"My best chance of the day is probably Fagan for Gordon Elliott. He's a nice, likeable sort and I was aboard when we won easily at this course last time," he said in his Betway blog.

"The step up in trip will definitely suit him. He's a horse that looks to have a big future and should go there with strong claims. I really liked him when he won his second bumper at Ayr in October."

Tinkler is later reunited with Call The Cops who gave him one the biggest thrills of his career when winning the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last March.

Sold in the summer and snapped up by JP McManus, Tinkler probably felt his days of riding him were over but with Geraghty choosing to partner stablemate Cup Final, Tinkler maintains the link in the Pertemps Qualifier.

"When the previous owners said they were selling him I had mixed emotions as it was one of the highlights of my career winning on him last season," said Tinkler.

"It's great to get back on him and I suppose I'm lucky that Mr McManus bought him as I do ride a few for him anyway.

"Then of course Barry could have ridden him, but he's chosen Cup Final, so it's all worked out well.

"The plan was to send him chasing but he had a little hold-up and then with the ground the way it was the boss decided to stay hurdling for another year.

"He's got nearly top weight, but he's got to start somewhere.

"He's up against Taglietelle again who just beat us at Aintree, stopping us from doing the double. He looked a well-handicapped horse at Cheltenham and proved it that day. He's got more weight than us now, though."

Another nice mount for Tinkler is Henderson's Cardinal Walter in the Totepool Scottish County Hurdle.

Decent on the level for David Simcock, he won two out of four over hurdles last season before finishing fifth to Cyrus Darius at Aintree.

"He wants decent ground, which is why he hasn't run to date (this season)," said Tinkler.

"His novice form is good and he wasn't disgraced at Aintree.

"I think the track and ground should suit, I'm looking forward to riding him again as our horses seem to have really turned a corner at home.

"He ticks a lot of boxes and I just hope there's a good pace as he can be a bit keen. There should be, though, with Aristo Du Plessis in there.

"My lad has a high cruising speed, they can't go quick enough."

Trainer James Ewart said of Aristo Du Plessis, who is on a four-timer and has won the last twice over course and distance: "He seems to be thriving on his racing and a fast track suits him down to the ground.

"The thing with Musselburgh is that a lot of horses jump really badly there because of how fast they tend to go, but he has such a high cruising speed that it doesn't bother him and he can still hold it all together.

"Obviously, he's paying the price for his victories, so you'd have to say this is his biggest task yet and he'll need a career-best to win, but he couldn't be in better shape."