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McCoy snapped up for Pady ride.

Barry Geraghty, who rode Forpadydeplasterer to victory in last season's Irish Independant Arkle Novice Chase, has told trainer Tom Cooper he is unable to ride the horse in this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase due to his prior commitments to the connections of either Big Zeb or Petit Robin.

Consequently, Cooper has snapped up Tony McCoy to partner his young chaser in the blue ribbon two mile chase at this month's Cheltenham Festival.

After a setback earlier this year, there was some doubt as to whether Forpadydeplasterer would even run at Cheltenham, but he has recovered well, and after a good gallop at Leopardstown after Sunday's race meeting, connections have decided to go for it, and with McCoy on board, Forpadydeplasterer now has the assistance of the fourteen time Champion National Hunt Jockey.

Henderson sends out important signals at Pre-Cheltenham Open Day.

Having had the most success of the current British trainers at the Cheltenham Festival, it is always useful to listen to what Nicky Henderson says at his Pre-Festival Open Day, and this year's photo opportunity for the press proved to be no exception.

Boosting his 2009 Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi, the Sevenbarrows handler indicated Saturday's victory at Kempton had put Punjabi right on course to pull off a memorable double, and Henderson also indicated he expected stable jockey Barry Geraghty to choose Punjabi over Zaynar for the Champion Hurdle.

With regard to his prospects in the RSA Chase, Henderson said,

"In my opinion, Punchestowns and Long Run are the two best novice chasers I have ever trained, and while I would find it hard to pick between them for this year's RSA Chase, with luck in running, I think they will have the beating of everything else in the field for this year's race."

For the Ryanair Chase, Henderson believes Barbers Shop, owned by Her Majesty the Queen, is in peak condition, and both distance and course should suit. There is also the possibility the injury hit Jack The Giant and Petit Robin could line up in the race, although the latter still has an entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Discussing his Irish Independant Arkle Trophy runners, Henderson commented,

"Riverside Theatre has been impressive and has won both of his starts over fences. His owner is getting very very excited about the race, and I am confident he will get a really good run from his horse.

My other likely entry Mad Max was a little disappointing in his last run, but that was on soft ground, and having had three wind operations, he undoubtedly prefers a sound surface. He is a big horse who eats up the ground between his fences, and if Cheltenham provides him with good ground, I think he also has a good chance."

Hughes fears Hunt could be swept away by Sea.

Dessie Hughes was impressed by Tranquil Sea's easy victory in the Newlands Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday, and in an interview today, he indicated his fear that Edward O'Grady's gelding would once more stop his ever consistant Shindlers Hunt from landing a big prize at the Cheltenham Festival.

In the interview, Hughes said,

"Schindlers Hunt had to settle for third place in last season's Ryanair Chase, but he proved with his third in this season's Irish Hennessy behind Joncol he is bang in form, and dropping back in trip on good ground at Cheltenham, I thought he would have a great chance of winning this year's renewal of the Ryanair Chase. Now having watched Tranquil Sea in action on Sunday, I have to admit he looks like a very good horse, and I think if we are going to take the race, Shindlers Hunt will have to beat Tranquil Sea."

Hennessy bullish about Sublimity Champion chances.

Already placed in this season's Fighting Fifth, December Festival , and Irish Champion Hurdles, Sublimity seems to be in the most consistant form he has shown since winning the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle in 2007, and after watching his very experienced hurdler put in a very promising ten furlong gallop at Leopardstown on Sunday, Hennessy said:

"He did it well on a surface he would not have liked, and I feel he is now as fit as I have ever had him. If he gets his preferred good ground at Cheltenham, I give him an outstanding chance of recapturing the Champion Hurdler title. We will now wrap him up in cottonwool, and hope the ground comes right at Cheltenham."

Catterick worried about frost threat.

While Catterick Racecourse has remained raceable after a -3 frost last night, with clear skies forecast for tonight, Cattrick Clerk of the Course Fiona Needham is concerned temperatures may drop even lower in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and as this could cause problems, she has chosen to call a precautionary inspection of her track at 8.00 am ahead of Tuesday afternoon's scheduled national hunt card.

Leicester join the frost watch.

Leicester Clerk of the Course Jimmy stevenson reports his track is currently raceable with ground described as 'heavy soft in places'.

However, with a noticeable frost due tonight, Stevenson has decided to hold a precautionary inspection of his track at 8.00 am ahead of Tuesday afternoon's national hunt card.

McCoy picks up a double at Twentieth 'Lesters'.

The twentieth annual 'Lesters' were awarded on Sunday evening at the Hilton Park Lane, and in a glittering ceremony, Tony McCoy added two more awards to his collection, making a total of sixteen in total.

Having picked up National Hunt Ride of the Year aboard Wichita Lineman at the Cheltenham Festival, McCoy then added National Jump Jockey of the Year to his burgeoning trophy cabinet.

Ryan Moore was named as Flat Jockey of the Year, while Haley Turner won her seventh Lester when taking Lady Rider of the Year.

Top Apprentice Jockey went to Freddy Tylicki, and the prize for top Conditional Jockey was presented to Aidan Coleman.

Two recently retired jockeys honoured were; Mick Kinane - International Jockey of the Year, and Dale Gibson - Flat Jockey Special Recognition. The counterpart award for Jump Jockey Special Recognition went to Jimmy McCarthey

Tom Queally then picked up Flat Ride of the Year for his outstanding effort aboard Henry Cecil's Mid-day in the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf.

Nacarat almost certain for Aintree.

Tom George was suprised and very pleased with the way Nacarat came out of Saturday's marginnal defeat to Razor Royale in the Racing Post Chase, saying:

"Considering the state of the ground, he recovered very quickly and ate up all of his food. He actually seems fresh, and I am happy to give him another outing later in the season. He will now have a few weeks rest and a bit of swimming before we put him back to work in preparation for a probable race at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April."

No decision on Mikael's Cheltenham participation.

Mikael D'Haguenet was included in a group of Willie Mullins star names who had a post racing gallop at Leopardstown on Sunday afternoon, and while connections were said to have been pleased with what they saw as the six-year-old french import schooled over fences in the hands of Ruby Walsh, no decision has yet been made as to whether Mikael D'Haguenet will return to Cheltenham for this year's Festival later this month.

Paddy to have gallop ahead of Festival.

Having finished eighth in last year's Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the Paul Nolan trained Shinrock Paddy has this season turned into a top class novice hurdler, picking up the Grade One Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle at Navan in December.

As part of his preparation for an assault on further Grade One success at this month's Cheltenham Festival, Shinrock Paddy is due to have a racecourse gallop at Leopardstown either today or tomorrow, and providing all goes well, Paul Nolan will then make a decision on the proposed target at Prestbury Park.

Discussing the situation on Sunday, Nolan commented,

"We still haven't decided which race he will go for at Cheltenham, but we will wait on the ground, but at this stage it is more than likely it will be the three mile Albert Bartlett."

Going on to discuss two of his other horses, Nolan said,

"Noble Prince will go to Cheltenham too, but we are still deciding whether to go for the Coral Cup or the County Hurdle with him.

"Joncol is in great shape after his Hennessy win, and he will probably go to Punchestown, dependant on the ground."

Trenchant likely to go for Pertemps Final.

Having secured a first time blinkers victory in Sunday's National Spirit Hurdle at a rain soaked Fontwell Park, connections have indicated Trenchant will follow up on his first Grade two success with a prbable run in the Pertemps Final at this month's Cheltenham Festival.