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Genes Reunited

Ffoslas requiring a frost free window.

Ffoslas Clerk of the Course Tim Long today indicated the light covering of snow the Ffoslas course recieved overnight is not a major problem, but a hard overnight frost forecast for Thursday and Friday could create difficulties, particularly if he is unable to get a frost free window in the next 24 hours to enable his ground staff to lay frost covers on the parts of the course currently exposed to the elements.

"We need to put down frost covers on a few exposed sections of the course, but that means we also need a window in which the air temperatures are above freesing. If we get that in the next twenty four hours, I am still hopeful Saturday's prestigious meeting including the SIS Welsh Champion Hurdle and the re-arranged Grade 1 Tolworh Hurdle can go ahead as planned."

Re-arranged fixture for Thurles.

Horse Racing Ireland have today confirmed, Thurles will be the venue for a replacement national hunt fixture which will take place on Friday 15 January 2010.

Kempton and Lingfield off due to safety concerns.

Today's scheduled all weather meetings at Kempton and Lingfield Park have been cancelled due to safety concerns. Although both the all weather tracks were thought to be raceable, bad road conditions around the venues, combined with lying snow in the enclosure areas, persuaded officials to cancel today's proposed racing cards due to concerns over the welfare of everyone travelling to the respective meetings.

Five more bite the snow.

We are unapologetic for our headline, for although we know the old phrase is actually 'bites the dust', in the present wether conditions, we feel our revised hedline is more accurate,

particularly as the Friday meetings at Bangor-on-dee and Fontwell Park, along with Saturday's meetings at Sedgefield and Wincanton, and now Sunday's fixture at Hereford, have today all fallen to the heavy overnight snow creating unraceable conditions at all five venues.

Carberry confident about Sublimity Champion Hurdle bid.

In an interview today, Sublimity's regular jockey Philip Carberry indicated his belief the top class hurdler has a good chance of regaining the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle crown he last won in 2007. Discussing his views, Carberry said,

"Sublimity has certainly regained his form since having a breathing operation. When he finished second to Go Native in this season's Fighting Fifth Hurdle, the race was tactical, and he was tapped for toe in the final four furlong dash. While his second to Solwit in the Leopardstown December Hurdle was on ground which did not entirely suit." Carberry then added,

"They always go a full gallop in the Champion Hurdle, and if he gets his preferred good ground in March, I think Sublimity is currently showing the kind of form which will enable himn to go close in this year's race."

Victor Chandler Chase looks like genuine Cheltenham Trial.

Thirteen runners are currently entered in the Victor Chandler Chase, which weather permitting is due to take place at Ascot on 23 January. With last year's winner Masterminded a definite absentee, the line up for this year's race has the quality of a genuine Champion Chase Trial.

This season's run away Tingle Creek Chase winner Twist Magic is joined by stable mate Free World, wwhile Tom Cooper looks likely to send Forpadydeplasterer as Ireland's sole representative, but the trainer admits he would prefer good ground for last season's Arkle Trophy winner if he is to get closer than his distant second to Twis Magic in the Tingle Creek.

Petit Robin could be the most unexposed entrant in the field, and his seasonal debut win over Well Chief at Kempton park's Christmas meeting would tend to suggest Nicky Henderson's charge will once again have the measure of David Pipe's old campaigner, but the Nicholas Hain traner believes the stiff course and fences at Ascot will suit Well Chief, enabling him to get much closer to Petit Robin and his Tingle creek conquerors Twist Magic and Forpadydeplasterer.

Ian Williams will be represented by the consistant Cornas, and Alan King currently has last season's Grand Annual Chase winner Oh Crick lined up for the Ascot race.

J Howard Johnson could be represented by Santa's Son and Lennon - the latter not seen on a race track since April 2008.

The remainder of the current 13 strong entry includes; the progressive Fix therib, Kinkeel, Lord Henry, and Oiseau de Nuit.

Spencer has amicable split with agent Sheret.

While representing Jamie Spencer over the past four years, jockey's agent Andrew Sheret has provided Spencer with over 650 winners and a strike rate of 19%, and in 2007, his booking of sufficient winning rides enabled Spencer to share the Flat Jockey's Championship with Seb Sanders.

However, Spencer now feels it is time for a change, and although maintaining a friendly relationship with Sheret, the jockey wants to employ an agent who may be able to get him more potential big race winners, while Sheret, who left Timeform in 2006 to become Spencer's agent, is now looking for new clients.

Weight could bar Miss Mitch Thyestes run.

Speaking on behalf of the yard, Sally Alner today admitted the allocation of 11 stone 6 pounds for Miss Mitch in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park on 21 January could prove to be a prohibitive factor.

"She has only had the one outing this season, and although she ran well to finish second to Our Vic in a Conditions Race at Warwick, her weight allocation for the Thyestes looks a bit stiff. We will have to talk to connections, but we may have to re-evaluate our position, and maybe go for a race at Ascot on 23 January.

Costello due to return in a fortnight.

Based with trainer John Quinn in Malton, North Yorkshire, jockey Dougie Costello has been out of action for the last month due to a fall at Wetherby. In the incident, the tendons around his knee were damaged when he was clipped by a horse when lying on the ground.

Luckily, the damage has responded well to treatment, and Costello is already riding out at home, and now expects to return to race riding in a fortnight. Discussing his situation, Costello said,

"I guess the injury could have been a lot worse, andat least withe the current weather, I am not missing a lot of racing."