Reductions ON thousands of CD's, DVD’s, Games & Computer Equipment and Software + FANTASTIC PRICE REDUCTIONs on clothing and books, Plus FREE Delivery:
Scilly Isles Novices Chase transferred to Newbury.
Following the abandonment of racing at Sandown on Saturday, February 04, the British Horseracing Authority have today confirmed that the Scilly Isles Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1) (Grade 1) will be transferred to Newbury on Saturday, February 11, 2012. This is an additional race which now forms part of an eight race card. Original entries will not stand and trainers wishing to make an entry have been advised they must do so by noon on Tuesday, February 07.
In a statement issued earlier today, the British Horseracing Authority expressed its thanks to the Levy Board, Newbury racecourse and Betfair for their help in staging this race.
Walsh now gets a Saturday reprieve.
Due to a change to the racing programme at Newbury this coming Saturday, which has seen the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices Chase added to the racing programme, Ruby Walsh has today learnt he has come in for the plum ride aboard Zarkandar in the Betfair Hurdle.
Last month, Walsh picked up a 3 day ban at Cheltenham for his riding of Pearl Swan in the Triumph Hurdle Trial, and the original ban saw him lose out on a book of rides at this Saturday’s valuable Betfair Meeting at Newbury, but the transferring of the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices Chase from the abandoned meeting at Sandown last weekend to this weekend’s card at Newbury, has completely altered things, for under BHA rules, Walsh is allowed to defer his ban on days when Grade One races take place, so without question, Walsh has taken up the option to ride at Newbury.
Speaking via his Twitter account, Paul Nicholls said:
“After discussions with the owners, Ruby now rides Zarkandar, with Daryl Jacob switching to Empire Levant.”
Walsh was obviously delighted with the news, and on his Twitter account, he said:
“Looks like I’ve got a get out of jail free card for Saturday. The Grade One Scilly Isles Novices Chase has become my ticket to ride. Happy Days.”
However, in all the euphoria, Paul Nicholls has issued one note of caution, in that he points out the Betfair is not Zarkandar’s main target this season, and whil he may still be capable of winning Saturday’s valuable handicap, it is not his main priority.
Lingfield joins list of cancellations.
With the turf course at Lingfield frozen under a covering of snow, and with frost expected for tonight and on Tuesday night, track officials have today confirmed the cancellation of the turf national hunt meeting scheduled to take place at the multi purpose venue this coming Wednesday afternoon – 08 February, 2012.
Clerk of the Course Neil Mackenzie-Ross took a look at his turf circuit at 2.00 pm today, but the condition of the track, combined with the on-going weather forecast, made the cancellation little more than a formality, with Lingfield becoming the latest venue to succumb to the current cold snap.
Jessie on course for Gold run.
Jessie’s Dream is set to make his belated seasonal debut in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown this coming Sunday.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, the nine-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since finishing close up in the RSA Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, but connections have confirmed the lightly raced gelding is now ready for a racecourse return, and talking to ATR, Elliott revealed:
“We’ll give him a little bit of work in the next day or two, and then decide if we go for the Hennessy or to Gowran Park instead.
“As things stand, we’re edging towards the Hennessy. He’s in good form, and we’re very happy with him.
“We took him to Fairyhouse a fortnight ago for a schooling race, and he went very well. At home he’s one of the best we have. He’s exciting, and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the track.”
Another of Elliott’s charges who is Cheltenham bound is Mount Benbulben, the afore mentioned having returned home sore after finishing behind the highly rated Boston Bob at Navan in December.
Discussing Mount Benbulben, Elliott said:
“He’s going to go straight to the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
“He pulled a muscle at Navan, and came home lame, but he seems fine now, and he’s jumping out of his skin. He’s a proper horse, and I don’t think he will be far away in the Albert Bartlett.”
British fixtures being decimated by cold snap.
The national hunt meetings at Market Rasen and Sedgefield scheduled to take place tomorrow – Tuesday 07 February – have already been abandoned due to a combination of snow and frost.
Market Rasen officials examined their course at 8.00 am today, and with a good covering of snow lieing on top of frozen ground, and a frost forecast again for tonight, the decision to abandon was inevitable.
Sedgefield were due to inspect at 12.30 pm, but Clerk of the Course Phil Tuck brought his decision to abandon forward after a cursory inspection this morning revealed the county durham course was frozen solid under its shallow covering of snow
Tiger a surprise Cheltenham entrant.
Surprise Cheltenham Festival entrant Tiger Reigns could commence his career over timber with a run at Doncaster this coming Thursday – if weather conditions permit.
Rated as high as 102 on the flat for trainer Michael Dods in 2010, the six-year-old failed to recapture that form in 2011, and was also disappointing in Dubai early last month.
However, County Durham-based Dods has now decided to try his charge over hurdles, and having saddled the occasional national hunt winner, Dods knows what is required to win over timber, so the fact he has entered Tiger Reigns in next month’s Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival could be significant, albeit, a clearer picture should be apparent after Tiger Reigns competes in this Thursday’s 32redpoker.com Novices Hurdle on Town Moor.
Discussing plans for his charge, Dods said:
“I’ve entered him at Doncaster, and all going wel, he’ll run.
“He’s had a bit of a break, as going to Dubai early in the year took a lot out of him.
“Barry Keniry has been schooling him, and all has gone well. Now we’ll see how he gets on on Thursday, and then we can look at some other races for him.”
Commenting on last season’s Lincoln Handicap winner Sweet Lightning, who suffered a slight injury setback after arriving in Dubai last month, Dods commented:
“He picked up a small injury after arriving in Dubai, but I would be hopeful of giving him a run or two in some of the valuable races at Meydan over the next month.”
British National Hunt Season Re-starts Today At AYR.
AYR Racecourse stages the first national hunt meeting in Britain since last Wednesday with The BetVictor Raceday taking place at the west coast track today.
Highlight of the afternoon will be the appearance of the highly rated Lie Forrit in The Best Odds At BetVictor.com Novices’ Chase at 2.35 pm.
Feature race of the afternoon is The Play Casino At BetVictor.com Handicap Chase over 3 miles 1 furlong.
===========================================================================
News Archives
2012:
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
News Stories prior to July 2008
