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Fenton extremely upbeat about Dunguib.

On his last outing, Spinal Injuries Supreme Novices Hurdle anti post favourite Dunguib may have won the Deloitte Hurdle still on the bridle, but trainer Philip Fenton today indicated,

"He jumped poorly in the Deloitte, but in his recent work he really seems to be bouncing, and I would say he will go to Cheltenham in the best condition of his life. He is probably good enough to run in the Champion Hurdle, but we will resist that temptation this year and concentrate all our efforts on his Supreme Novices Hurdle run."

White Oak retired to paddocks.

The Donald McCain trained White Oak was the winner of the inaugural running of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle in 2008, and she later went on to finish eighth in last year's Champion Hurdle. But after a Listed win earlier this season, she disappointed in a Grade 2 Mares Hurdle on her last outing, and with a slight injury now preventing her from running in this season's David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, connections have decided it is time for the seven-year-old mare to retire to the breeding paddocks with immediate effect.

Williams very hopeful Brennan will ride Weird Al.

Reporting Weird Al is in great order ahead of his intended run in the RSA Chase, trainer Ian Williams has also let it be known he is very hopeful Paddy Brennan, who rode Weird Al to victory in the Grade Two Towton Novices Chase at Wetherby, will renew his partnership with the horse in the RSA Chase.

Discussing the situation, Williams said,

"With Noel Fehily sidelined, I have been using Paddy to school Weird Al ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, and although he has an arrangement to ride for Nigel Twiston Davies, I am very hopeful he will be aboard Weird Al at the start of the RSA Chase."

Harrington backing Summit Meeting.

Jessica Harrington today revealed her various entries for this year's Cheltenham Festival, but in an honest appraisal of her horses, she indicated Summit Meeting would provide the yard with their best chance of a victory when he lines up in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle.

A good winner on his debut over hurdles, Summit Meeting had an off-day in the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle, he was a good winner again in his last race at Fairyhouse, and Jessica Harrington obviously rates him, saying:

"Summit Meeting has come on from his last run at Fairyhouse, and if he gets goodish ground at Cheltenham, I think he has a great chance of providing us with another Festival winner."

Thornton picks out three Festival rides.

In an interview today with ATR, jockey Robert Thornton picked out three horses he is really looking forward to riding at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

"Medermit has continued to improve all season, and with two placed runs under his belt at Cheltenham, and a win over Punjabi at Haydock, he is the kind of progressive horse you want going into the Champion Hurdle. He is in great form and seems very well in himself, and I would give him a great chance of featuring in this year's Champion Hurdle.

"Twist Magic seems to be in the best form of his life, and his Sandown and Ascot Grade One victories have both been clear cut. I know people say he has to show that level of form at Cheltenham, but he has never gone into the Queen Mother Champion Chase in such consistant form, and I think he will be the one to trouble Masterminded.

"I was delighted to get the ride on Somersby in the Irish Independant Arkle. I know Henrietta Knight will send him to the Festival in fine order, and if he has improved since his last win at Sandown, I feel he has every chance of winning the premier two mile novice chase."

Charlton putting Beau forward as each way banker.

While accepting the Nicky Henderson pairing of Punchestowns and Long Run look like 'machines' ahead of their proposed runs in the Cheltenham RSA Chase, trainer George Charlton points out two things to bear in mind:

"Even the best horses can have an 'off-day', or a racing incident takes them out of contention during the race, and with Punchestowns in particular having only had two preparation races, I think my Knockara Beau presents a better each way option in the three mile contest.

"He has not failed to finish in the first two in his seven high class races this season, and while he has been beaten by Diamodn Harry, Weird Al and Burton Port on his last three outings, if you consider the facts, he has been repeatedly unlucky. In the race at Haydock Bensalem fell across him and nearly brought him down at the third last, but despite the unfavourable heavy ground, he battled back for second place. At Wetherby he had to give weight on soft ground to Weird Al, but he was clsoing again as they neared the line. While against Burton Port he pulled off a shoe and ripped his pelvis at the second fence, but once again he ran on to take second place.

"If he can get a clear run in the RSA Chase on goodish ground, I think he could be the best each way bet for the entire Cheltenham Festival."

Richards could go one of three ways with Skippers Brig.

Last seen finishing third behind Poquelin and Razor Royale in the Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, the Nicky Richards trained Skippers Brig has the option of three methods of preparation for a potential run in the William Hill Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

This coming Saturday he has entries in the Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury and the totesport.com Premier Chase at Kelso, but Richards has indicated he could choose a third route, sayin:

"I have to discuss it with the owners, but I think at the moment the best place for him to go would be Newbury. He is also entered at Kelso, and the owners may want him to go there, but I think he is a bit wrong at the weights in that race, and I think it might be the wrong thing to do. To be frank, we might decide not to go anywhere, and just give him a racecourse gallop to get him ready for Cheltenham. He will go for the William Hill Trophy all being well, but we need a bit of help from the weather, as he wouldn't want the going at Cheltenham to dry up. If he gets his ground, he will have a decent chance."

Cool River will by-pass Cheltenham.

Having beaten the well regarded Quel Esprit earlier in the season before going on to defeat Pittoni in last weekend's Grade Two Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Navan, the Jessica Harrington trained Cool River could be a well fancied novice if running at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

However, connections feel Cool River will be even more effective on good ground, and they have therefore decided to give their exciting young novice a bit of a break before tackling major races at the Festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in April.

Dar re mi to have all weather preparation.

The Lord Lloyd Webber owned Dar re mi is to warm up for her run in the Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse on 27 March with an all weather gallop at either Kempton or Lingfield.

Last seen finishing third in the Breeders Cup Turf behind Conduit, the daughter of Singspiel had a busy season in 2009, but trainer John Gosden reports she is showing plenty in her home work, and he expects the proposed all weather gallop to put her just right aheadof her Grade One race in the Gulf.

Cheltenham build up for Character.

Although relatively disappointing in his return to racing in a Doncaster hurdle last month, trainer John Quinn believes Character Building was in desperate need of the outing, and he also believes his gelding will strip a lot fitter when tackling his Aintree Grand National preparation race in the William Hill Trophy Chase at Cheltenham later this month.

Explaining his thinking, Quinn commented,

"He had a long lay off with injury, and no matter how much work you do on the home gallops to prepare a horse for racing, you only find out what is needed when you give them a race. Character Building was staying on at the end of the Doncaster hurdle, and I know he is a lot fitter now, and I am hopeful the William Hill at Cheltenham will put him just right for this year's Grand National."

Old campaigner Caracciola to miss Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson has ruled out the possibility of thirteen-year-old Caracciola running at this year's Cheltenham Festival. The 'old boy' was a revelation on the flat last year, winning the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, and finishing fourth in the Goodwwod Cup on his last run, and owner Piers Pottinger is keen to prepare his horse for another crack at the Queen Alexandra this season.

Discussing plans for his outstanding veteran, Henderson said,

"He likes to hear his hooves rattle when racing over hurdles, and Cheltenham may be too ssoon for the best ground. We may look at giving him an outing at the Ayr Scottish National, but his main objective will be another run in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, and everything else will be geared around that objective."