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Genes Reunited

Henderson confirms persistant Punchestowns rumour.

After a day in which original RSA Chase favourite Punchestowns witnessed anti post punters avoiding him like he had the plague, his trainer Nicky Henderson admitted late this afternoon his young chaser has suffered a setback, and is now a real doubt for the three mile novice chasing highlight at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Describing the problem, Henderson reported,

"Punchestowns has a problem with his left fore. He has had x-rays, but nothing could be found, and we must wait and see what occurs in the next couple of days. If it is a muscle problem, he would be highly unlikely to run at Cheltenham."

Two trainers who are hoping for good ground.

Henry Daly and Howard Johnson confess they are both hoping for some good ground at tomorrow's meetings at Doncaster and Kelso.

After being very impresive over hurdles this campaign, Henry Daly has Possol entered in his first chase of the season, and the handler is hoping better ground wil enable his gelding to show the kind of form in the Grimthorpe Chase as he has shown in hurdle victories at Ascot and Doncaster.

Discussing his hopes, Daly said,

"He needs good ground to be at his best over fences, and if he gets favourable conditions in tomorrow's Grimthorpe at Doncaster, it should set him up very nicely for a run in the Grand National."

Amongst Possol's opponents in the three mile two furlong chase will be; Comply or Die, Cloudy Lane, Airforce One, Iris de Balme, Merigo, and Killyglen.

Killyglen ended the 2008 - 2009 national hunt campaign with a Grade two win at Aintree, but unfavourable conditions have not enabled him to recapture that form this season, but Howard Johnson is hoping better ground at Doncaster will aid his task in the Grimthorpe,

"Things just haven't gone right for him this season. He got bumped badly in the Hennessy down at Newbury, and we had to pull him up. On his last outing, A P McCoy said he was never going at Sandown, and didn't even feel right going to the start. So we will run him at Doncaster on better ground, and hopefully he can bounce back, and if he does, we will make a plan from there."

Going on to discusss Washington Irving's outing in tomorrow's sportingbet.com Kelso Premier Hurdle, Johnson said,

"He didn't like the heavy ground at Newcastle on his last outing, but with his flat credentials, we are very hopeful he will put in a good run on better ground at Kelso."

Pipe has ground concerns for Our Vic.

David Pipe has admitted today he has concerns over the ground conditions ahead of Our Vic's run in tomorrow's Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury, saying:

"With him dropping back to two and a half miles, I would have preferred the ground at Newbury to have more cut for tomorrow's race, but hopefully it will be tacky enough for him to show his best. I'm not sure where we will go after Newbury. He has several entries at Cheltenham, or he could go for the Grand National, but that will be up to David Johnson, as he already has other entries in the race. At this stage, we just want him to come out of tomorrow's race in one piece, and then we can decide what to do from there."

Connections hoping for good Aintree 'prep' for Sa Suffit.

Trainer James Ewart is very hopeful Sa Suffit will book his Aintree place with a good showing in Saturday's totesport.com Kelso Premier Chase at the Borders track.

A winner of a decent handicap on his last start at Wetherby, the seven-year-old is scheduled to miss Cheltenham in favour of a run in the John Smiths Handicap on Grand National Day at Aintree, and according to his handler,

"The two mile six furlong trip at Kelso is ideal, and the race comes at just the right time, 333 days before Aintree. We have also learnt he is not the greatest traveller, and we got our fingers burnt when we took him down to Cheltenham in December. Add that to the fact there is not much of a gap between Cheltenham and Aintree this year, a lot of the horses who will be running at Aintree will already have had hard races, whereas we will have had a nice window to get himready specifically for Aintree."

Twice Over to get final work-out.

Henry Cecil reports Twice Over seems to be very well, and his Champion Stakes winner is to have his final piece of work on the Newmarket all weather gallops on Sunday morning ahead of his trip to the Gulf for theDubai World Cup on 27 March.

Binocular makes suprise return to training.

With precious little to show for his various efforts in top class hurdling company this season, connections of Binocular had recently sent him for a barrage of veterinary tests, but after being given a clean bill of health by the equine medical experts, the nine-year-old, who finished third in the 2009 Champion Hurdle, has now made a suprise return to training, and may even compete in this season's Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.

Commenting on the situation, trainer Nicky Henderson said,

"Binocular is looking extremely well, but we'll wait and see how he schools over hurdles for A P McCoy next week before we formulate a plan. He is still entered for the Champion Hurdle, and if there is a realistic chance of him running at Cheltenham to the best of his ability, then who knows."

Clear round the sole plan for Zaarito.

Colm Murphy admits he is keeping his fingers crossed Zaarito can bounce back to form in Sunday's Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase. The eight-year-old was beaten by just a neck by Arkle Trophy anti post favourite Captain Cee Bee at Naas in December, and he then followed up with a strong win at Leopardstown over Christmas. But since then he has suffered two heavy falls, and as the trainer explains, he only has one objective for Zaarito this weekend:

"He seems to be in good form, and after his last couple of races the main thing we want is a clear round. Anything after that is a bonus. He has schooled well over the last couple of weeks, and actually I think he is a good jumper, it is just that he seems to lose concentration now and again. He is not entered at Cheltenham, but if all were to go to plan this weekend, we would probably go to the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse."

Dwyer has Mia's Boy conundrum.

The ever consistant Mia's Boy managed to finish fourth in last season's Lincoln Handicap, and followed up with a third place in the Royal Hunt Cup and a second spot in a hot handicap at Doncaster in November, but a proposed run over 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton next weekend could present trainer Chris Dwyar with a bit of a conundrum. For if Mia's Boy gets placed, he can still run in this year's Lincoln Handicap, but with his current high mark, if he wins the Wolverhampton race, Dwyer will almost certainly have to raise him into Listed company, where he may have to take on potential top class horses in the early part of the season.

Discussing the situation, Dwyer commented:

"You never go into a race to lose, but he willneed next week's outing, and I just hope he has to face a couple of 'well-in handicappers' in next week's race."

Presvis puts himself back in the frame.

Illustrating the fact you should never overlook a good horse, the Luca Cumani trained Presvis bounced back to form in last night's Group Two Jebel Hatta on 'Super Thursday' at Meydan.

Given an ice cool ride by Ryan Moore, Presvis was held up for most of the race, but after Frankie Dettorri committed Alexandros, Moore weved through the field and found a gap on the rails, and after engaging overdrive, Presvis responded by sprinting clear of his rivals.

Speaking after the race, Luca Cumani was obviously delighted, saying,

"We've got him back where he was, and he will now definitely go for the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup Night."

Long 'Whip' ban for Heffernan.

Having been referred by the Wolverhampton stewards following his riding of Motu at the Midlands track on 15 February 2010, jockey Andrew Heffernan yesterday faced a BHA Disciplinary Panel on a charge of Excessive Use of the Whip.

Heffernan had already picked up 25 days of suspensions for similar incidents during the last 12 months, and after viewing evidence of the Wolverhampton race, and hearing a submission from Heffernan, the Panel banned him from riding for a total of 21 days - to run from Friday 12 March to Monday 05 April 2010, on the days there is flat racing in Britain.

King has another day at the seaside.

Having used a run on the beach at Redcar to great effect in Kalahari King's preparation for his recent devastating Doncaster victory, trainer Ferdy Murphy once more gave his Queen Mother Champion Chase hope a spin on the Redcar sands, and the handler reports all went well.

Abbey stands out amongst 91 for Guineas.

At the latest decleration stage for the Stan James sponsered Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, the stand out entrant is the current anti post favourite St Nicholas Abbey.

The unbeaten son of Montjeu already has three victories to his credit, including a facile success in last October's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He heads a sizeable entry from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard which includes; Beethoven, Dewhurst Stakes second and fourth Fencing Master and Steinbeck, along with Cape Blanco, Joshua Tree and Jan Vermeer.

Godolphin sport the biggest entry with 14 representatives headed by Breeders Cup hero Vale of York - who was actually a little disappointing in last night's run at Meydan - Irish recruits Chabal and Kingsfort, french Group One winner Passion for Gold and the unbeaten Zeitoper.

Mark Johnston's Middle Park winner Awzaan, Brian Meehan's Prix Morny winner Arcarno, Richard Hannon's impressive Coventry Stakes winner Canford Cliffs, and the Sir Michael Stoute trained trio of Workforce, Treble Jig and Markazzi are amongst other sof interest.

Duty bound for 1,000 Guineas.

French trainer Criquette Head Maarek has a proven liking for the Stan James sponsered Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, having already won it on three previous occasions, and she has now given some good news to anti post punters, confirming current favourite Special Duty is on target for the race.

The clear market leader of the 71 remaining entries after the latest decleration stage, Special Duty is hoping to follow up on her impressive win in last season's Cheveley Park Stakes, and according to her trainer, she will have a preparation run in the prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte on 08 April, and providing all goes well, the Guineas will then be her next race.

Aidan O'Brien has 10 entries, including Lillie Langtry and You'll Be Mine. While other leading entries include Seta, Misheer, and 5 from filly specialist Henry Cecil, including; Principle Row, pleasing Kempton winner Aviate, and the well bred Timepiece.