Mister Musicmaster out to hit high note for 79-year-old trainer Ron Hodges

Mister Musicmaster – something of superstar at Ron Hodges's small-scale Somerset stable – brings up a century of appearances in division two of Kempton's mile handicap (6.00) on Tuesday and the veteran trainer is sweet on the chances of him marking the milestone with victory.

A son of Amadeus Wolf, Mister Musicmaster joined Hodges from Rod Millman in 2012 and has won 11 times in his career.

"He's a lovely little horse, a super individual and anyone can ride him at home," Hodges said of the ten-year-old, who will be partnered by David Probert.

"Everything about him is good and we think he could run really well.

"He's working well and looks a picture, but the draw could be better – 11 is not the best. We couldn't have him in better form though."

Based not far from Glastonbury, Hodges and wife Amanda are slowly winding down their operation.

"We've only got half a dozen in," added the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer, who once had more than 50 horses in his care.

"We're really cutting down – I'm getting a bit old for it now. We've been doing this since 1981 and I'm 79, 80 on March 1.

"There's no date when we'll stop, just on how I feel, but I enjoy it.

"The thing is it's very hard now for a small yard to get a decent horse. They're very dear now and the day you could buy one for not much seems to have gone, but we breed one or two and a couple of those seem quite nice, so we'll see."

An RSA winner with the Richard Dunwoody-ridden Hanakham in 1997, Hodges also captured the Ayr Gold Cup four years earlier with Hard To Figure, who was partnered by Ray Cochrane.

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