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Snap Tie only runs if going is good.Philip Hobbs has confirmed today his Snap Tie will only run in the Champion Hurdle if the going is good for Tuesday's race. As a precaution, Snap Tie has also been left in the County Hurdle, as he might run in that contest off top weight if the going improved sufficiently by next Friday. King delighted with Voy Por Ustedes.Alan King is reported to be delighted with Voy Por Ustedes prior to next Thursday's Ryanair Chase, and based on the declerations he will now only have to face a maximum of eleven rivals. Although both Tidal Bay and Imperial Commander are still included in the line -up, the former may take on Masterminded in the Champion Chase, or he might just by-pass Cheltenham entirely. Catch It not to be blinkered.Last year's Champion Hurdler Catch It will not wear blinkers in this year's race. Trainer Alan King has decided they would have little effect, and he is just hoping the six year old can recapture his form in time for next Tuesday's race. Cheltenham predicting good going for first day.With a dry interlude expected over the next three days, Cheltenham officials are predicting good going with some cut for the first day of the Festival, but there is a proviso, in as much as rain is forecast for Tuesday, and it depends how much falls on the course before the commencement of racing on Tuesday afternoon, as this may of course change the predicted going prior to the first race. Karabak the latest Macmanus horse to be supported.Karabak has now been supported into anti post favouritism for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle, and this makes seven J P Macmanus horses who hold clear or joint favouritism of Cheltenham Festival races. It has to be said, if they all win, Mister Macmanus will be adding to his already large fortune, and the bookmakers will probably be heading for the nearest darkened room, with the intention of crying themselves to sleep. Coral predict bumper Festival.Coral spokesperson David Stevens hs today confirmed Coral have already had a record anti post start to the Cheltenham Festival, and he is predicting the public on both sides of the Irish Sea are forgetting the recession for one week, and are about to match the same half billion pound figure wagered on last year's Cheltenham Festival. Leicester goes ahead.After freezing overnight temperatures, Leicester held an inspection at 10 a m this morning, and thankfully the course passed muster, and today's racing goes ahead. Gowran Park meeting cancelled.With patches of snow still covering the track, and underlying waterlogged ground, officials at Gowran Park have taken the pre-emtive decision to cancel the meeting planned for Saturday 07 March. With the permission of Horse Racing Ireland, the meeting has been rescheduled for Friday 20 March, with entries closing on Monday 16 March. Carberry delays return until first day of Cheltenham.Paul Carberry has obviously decided discretion is the better part of valour, for following the post fall kick he took on his right leg last Saturday, he has delayed his return to racing action until the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. Speaking yesterday, the jockey indicated he had no problem with his leg, but he did not want to take the risk of aggrivating the injury prior to such an important racing festival. Hayley could go home today.Unofficial sources are once more suggesting lady jockey Hayley Turner may be released from hospital later today. Hayley has been under observation for head injuries in Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge since her training stalls incident aboard Old Saran earlier this week, and even if she is allowed to go home, it is unlikely she will return to riding for some days. White Oak takes her chance in Champion Hurdle.Having won the race last year, White Oak was a near banker for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival, but after her second place in Wincanton's Kingwell Hurdle, trainer Donald McCain believes she has the class to compete at the highest level, and he has decided to enter his mare in the Champion Hurdle. Bearing in mind, White Oak's close second at Wincanton was achieved on her come back run from an injury which had kept her off the track for twelve months, if she does improve for the Wincanton run, then the trainer may well be right in his assessment of the mares chances in the Champion Hurdle. Fran withdrawn from Cup.At yesterday's forty eight hour decleration stage David Pipe decided to withdraw Big Eared Fran from the list of runners for Saturday's Imperial Cup at Sandown. The third favourite had been well fancied in some quarters, but it seems Pipe has another target in mind. Morris bullish over chances of War.Mouse Morris is confident War of Attrition will return to the kind of form which saw him win the 2006 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The trainer believes his ten year old is in the best condition he has achieved since his 2006 victory, and providing the going is no worse than soft at Cheltenham, then he expects the former champion to put in a big bid to recapture his steeplechasing crown. Barnett appeases Ascot Layers.In yesterday's meeting with four representatives of the On Course Bookmakers Association, Ascot Chief Executive Charles Barnett explained, from his understanding of the racecourse's new promotional arrangement with Betfair, the new Betfair Lounge at Ascot was for promotional purposes, and would not be a betting lounge with terminals connected to the Betfair betting exchange. This explanation seemed to placate the representatives of the 'layers', who had forecast dire consequences if the proposed 'betting lounge' had gone ahead, but it is interesting to note, no comment has yet been forthcoming from representatives of Betfair. Bookmakers eye up French on-line betting franchises.Bookmakers on both sides of the Irish Sea are looking with interest at the partial deregulation of the French gaming industry. For the first time the French state is to allow outside bids for its on-line gaming franchises, the licences to become active on Poker and Sports Book betting in 2010. It is understood several firms are interested in making bids, but they are waiting until later this year when details of the franchises are made available. It is thought this switch in a long running non foreign involvement policy is due to the fact the French government see this as a useful tax raising sale, as they will impose a suggested betting tax of two per cent on on-line Poker gaming and seven and a half per cent on on- line Sports Book betting. Santa Anita owner's to file bankruptcy.Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC), the owners of Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico and Laurel race tracks, are reported to be filing for bankruptcy in America. However, the move will not adversly effect the Breeders Cup meeting planned for Santa Anita on 06 and 07 November, as the track is leased for the meeting by the Oaktree Racing Association, and they are not effected by the MEC decision. Ffoslas to create part time job opportunities.Ffoslas, the first turf racecourse in Britain for over eighty years, is creating sixty part time job opportunities. The South Wales course is currently looking for turnstile operators, racecard sellers, track maintenance staff, and cashiers for the eight meetings planned between Jume and December of this year. Ffoslas Managing Director John Williams says he is looking for, "people who are friendly and helpful, enjoy working with the public and with customers at all levels, and due to Ffoslas's position in South Wales, bilingual skills would be preferred". Macarthy partially successful in his appeal.Jockey Adrian Macarthy, who had been penalised by the Lingfield stewards for failing to ride Peter Chapple Hyam's Mia's Boy to his full potential at Lingfield on 04 May 2007, has been Partially successful in his long delayed appeal against his fourteen day ban. The delay in the hearing had been brought about by investigations into suggested irregular betting patterns concerning Mia's Boy in the race in question, but after much diligence, no such patterns had been confirmed. With regard to the appeal against his fourteen day ban, the BHA Disciplinary Panel found, although Macarthy had made mistakes in his riding of the horse, the fact that Mia's Boy dwelt in the stalls, and the jockey had then been unable to follow the instructions given by the trainer, contributed to his confusion over riding tactics. Partially upholding Macarthy's appeal, the Panel reduced his ban to ten days, to apply on flat racing days between 06 and 18 March 2009.
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News Stories prior to July 2008
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