Project Bluebook earns Cheltenham quotes with Musselburgh success

Project Bluebook looks another smart youngster for John Quinn to go to war with this spring judged on a runaway success at Musselburgh.The Settrington-based dual-purpose trainer has done well with his juvenile jumpers in recent years, with 2012 Triumph Hurdle hero Countrywide Flame the best example.Project Bluebook is still a long way from scaling those heights, but it was difficult not to be impressed by the way he claimed his second victory from three starts over timber in Scotland.Having won three times on the Flat for Quinn in 2016, the son of Sinndar was beaten on his National Hunt debut at Catterick before opening his account over this course and distance on New Year's Day.Taking on his elders for the first time in the in the Trial Racing UK For Free Now Handicap Hurdle, the 11-4 favourite moved smoothly to the lead in the straight and passed the post with two and a half lengths in hand under a confident Brian Hughes.Quinn's son and assistant, Sean, said: " I don't know how strong a race it was, but he won well and jumped well and looks to be getting the hang of it. "He's had a couple of quick runs now so we'll see how he comes out of the race."We could think about Cheltenham, but there's also Liverpool (Aintree) and Ayr later on and I don't think Dad will be getting drawn into anything at this stage."Sky Bet make Project Bluebook a 25-1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle and 16-1 for the Fred Winter.The Ian Williams-trained Appy Days made the most of having her sights lowered in the Cosmic Case Mares' Novices' Hurdle.Formerly trained in Ireland, the seven-year-old now carries the colours of top golfers Lee Westwood and Danny Willett, along with their manager Chubby Chandler.She made a winning debut for her new connections in an all-weather bumper at Lingfield in November before finishing third in a Listed event at Huntingdon.The daughter of King's Theatre found Listed company a little too hot on her hurdling debut at Taunton over the festive period, but had less on her plate in this two-mile contest and readily obliged as the 5-6 favourite in the hands of Tom O'Brien. "It was a big ask last time, but she had done well at a lower level," said Williams. "We dropped her in class today and she's done it well, so I'm delighted for the boys."I'm think the owners would like to run her at Newcastle in the autumn while the British Masters is being played at Close House, so we might do that if we can find a race for her."She's doing well and we'll probably run her in some of those mares' races in the spring."Champion jockey Richard Johnson needed all of his strength to get Fields Of Glory (4-1) home in front in the Celebrating 30 Years Of Jumps Racing At Musselburgh Handicap Chase.Civil Unrest looked set to secure a fourth course win when leading halfway up the straight, but was collared on the run-in by both Fields Of Glory and 5-2 favourite Chain Of Beacons, with the former winning the argument by half a length.Civil Unrest was just a nose away in third. Danceintothelight (13-2) made every yard of the running in the Watch RacingUK With Free Trial Now Handicap Hurdle,benefitingfrom a well-judged ride by amateur Theo Gillard. Benefit In Kind (6-1) was a narrow winner of the Racing UK Free For A Month Handicap Chase, while Pulpitarian (17-2) defied top weight in the Racing UK HD Handicap Hurdle.The Start Your RacingUK Free Trial Now Standard Open NH Flat Race brought proceedings to a close, with victory going to Jerry Cosgrave's Irish raider Drops Of Jupitor (14-1).