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Prince battles to get on top of Montan.
Under a driving finish from partner Davy Condon, the Dermot Weld-trained 6-1 shot Prince Erik battled to a neck victory over 5-4 race favourite Montan in this afternoon's Directors Plate Novices Chase at Naas.
A runner in the 2007 Irish Derby, Prince Erik finished second in last year's Pertemps Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival, and while he has entries in the Kim Muir and Grand Annual Chases at this year's Festival, trainer Dermot Weld threw cold water on any suggestion of a repeat trip to Prestbury Park, saying in his post race interview:
"We've got no set plans for him, but I don't think he will be going to Cheltenham, as I feel he's been given toomuch weight in the two races for which he is entered."
Theatre ruled out for the season.
Nicky Henderson has today revealed, Ryanair Chase second favourite Riverside Theatre has been ruled out for the remainder of the current national hunt season after suffering a hairline fracture to his pelvis during his pre-Cheltenham training exercise on Friday.
Explaining the situation regarding his seven-year-old, Nicky Henderson said:
"He pulled up lame after training on Friday, and while we thought initially it might be a muscle problem, the vets discovered a hairline fracture to his pelvis during a scan. Naturally, we are disappointed, but we are glad the problem was discovered, for it could have been far more serious if we'd kept exercising him thinking it was some kind of muscle problem.
"As he proved in the King George and the Betfair Chase, he's a young horse with a big future, and the vets believe he will be fine to race again next season. So at least we can look forward to that."
Europe to adopt forcing tactics.
Confirming last season's Irish Independant Arkle Trophy victor Sizing Europe is to take his chacne in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, trainer Henry de Bromhead has also revealed his charge will be used prominently in this year's 2 mile championship race, with the irish handler commenting:
"While not quite as forward as last season, Sizing Europe really seems to be coming into himself at just the right time, and while we have used hold up tactics with him in his efforts overlonger distances earlier in the season, we intend to keep him up amongst the front runners in the Champion Chase.
"He showed in last year's Arkle that he likes to be prominent, particularly in the first mile, and I would say that is what we will do with him in this year's Champion Chase. Very few horses come from a long way off the pace to win in 2 mile chases at Cheltenham, and I think we have to bear that in mind when choosing our tactics for this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase."
Harding out until April with broken arm.
Brian Harding suffered the inevitable ups and downs of a national hunt jockey at Kelso on Saturday afternoon, for not long after winning the Kelso Premier Chase on 3-1 shot Skippers Brig, the northern based rider suffered concussion and a broken arm after taking a tumble from Moufatango at the thrid last flight in the 2 mile 6 furlong Handicap Hurdle.
Harding's agent has confirmed the fracture is on the lower part of his arm, and with no bone displacement, he will only require a cast, and while missing out on his book of rides at the Cheltenham Festival, his agent has indicated:
"Brian is a quick healer, and he had a similar injury last season which only kept him out ofaction for about four weeks, and he is very hopeful he will be fit in time to ride Skippers Brig in the John Smiths Grand National."
Montbazon to skip Cheltenham in favour of Aintree.
The alan King-trained Montbazon barely had to come off the bridle when landing Saturday's £50,000 DBS Spring Sales Bumper at Doncaster, but if any anti post punters immediately tore into him for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, they will hope they put their bet on with one of the firms offering No Runner No Bet, for King has today confirmed:
"The Weatherbys Champion Bumper will come too soon after yesterday's run, and we have decided to aim him at the Champion Bumper race at the Aintree Grand National Meeting instead. We think he's a very nice horse with a big future, but we're determined to give him time between his races, and so he will go to Aintree and not Cheltenham."
Jenny and Mark Pitman are no strangers to Cheltenham glory, with Mrs Pitman being the first woman to train a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, while son Mark rode and trained winners at the Prestbury Park national hunt extravaganza. So with the two of them pairing up as the syndicate controllers of Weatherbys Champion Bumper entry Twentyfourcaret, their entrant must be given serious consideration, particularly as the four-year-old originates from the same irish breeding operation which supplied Mark Pitman with his Champion Bumper and Sun Alliance winner Monsignor, and Twentyfourcaret should be watched in the betting market, as any positive moves may suggest a bit of a gamble on the Pitman factor.
Pipe believes Grands is in Crus control.
David Pipe is apparently very happy with Grands Crus ahead of the grey's attempt to overthrow the long term dominance of Big Bucks in the staying hurdle catagory. The two are due to clash in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on the third day of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, and while a win for Big Bucks will represent his third victory in a row in the World Hurdle, he may have to pull out all the stops this season if Grands Crus can repeat the performance he put in to win the Cleeve Hurdle earlier this year.
Discussing his young pretender's preparation for Cheltenham, David Pipe confirmed:
"Grands Crus is in great shape. He's been exrcising every day, and we intend to build him up to peak for the World Hurdle. He's unbeaten this season, and I would like to think he will remain that way after he takes on Big Bucks at Cheltenham."
Late decision on Albertas Run.
Although the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Albertas Run has failed to trouble the judge in his three runs so far this season, (fourth behind Monet's Garden in the Old Roan Chase followed by a fall at Ascot and a pulled-up in the King George at Kempton), connections have not yet ruled the ten-year-old out of a defence of his Ryanair Chase title at the Cheltenham Festival, with Trevor Hemmings Racing Manager Mick Meagher commenting:
"We havn't made a decision about Cheltenham yet, as we're waiting to see what the ground will be like. He's always done well in the Spring, having won the EBf Final and the Ryanair Chase at this time of year, and he also ran well at Liverpool last April.
For those who read things between the lines of statements, Meagher then went on to add a comment which may suggest future plans for Albertas Run, with Meagher saying:
"It was a great performance at Liverpool last year coming so close after Cheltenham. He loves it there, with good ground and the sun on his back, and you have to say, everything seems right for him at Aintree."
Tompkins to have rare Cheltenham runner.
Newmarket based Mark Tompkins is well known for his good record in training winners of top class flat handicaps, so when he confides via his website that he is entering Akula in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, it is a move worth noting.
Akula finished fourth behind JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Local Hero on his first run this season, but Tompkins watched his young charge put in a great piece of work alongside stablemate Smokie Oakie on Saturday, and the handler believes his charge has come on a great deal in the last few weeks, and he may be a good each-way type for the competitive Fred Winter Handicap at Cheltenham.
Johnson issues ground warning over Focus.
Despite the fact Back In Focus put the wel regarded Court In Motion in his place in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park last month, trainer Howard Johnson is making it clear, his former Irish Point-to Point winner is a soft ground horse, and if the going at Cheltenham continues to dry up over the next week, the County Durham handler is unlikely to risk his charge in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Elaborating on the facts, Johnson said:
"Back In Focus must have ease in the ground. If we get sufficient rain before the Festival, he will run, but if the going continues to dry out over the next week, it is highly unlikely we will risk him on good ground, and he will certainly not run if the going becomes fast."
Bradstock happy with Carruthers ahead of Gold Cup.
Mark Bradstock reports, 'Carruthers was very pleasing in a piece of work on Friday', and the nine-year-old, bred and partly owned by Lord John Oaksey, is said to be bangg on course for his intended run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Fourth in last year's 3 mile 2 furlong Grade 1 at Prestbury Park, Carruthers showed he was getting back to his best with a sound fourth place behind Silver By Nature in very heavy ground in last month's 3 mile 4 furlong totesport.com Grand National Trial at Haydock, and Bradstock indicates his charge has come on for that last effort, saying:
"Carruthers was well in contention for much of the Haydock race, and he only tired in the closing stages. His work on Friday tells me he has come on from his last run, but my main concern is now the drying ground at Cheltenham. If it comes up soft, I really think he has a chance of improving on his fourth place in the 2010 Gold Cup, but if the going continues to dry out, we may find things a bit difficult, as he is certainly a better horse on ground with some ease."
Gitano connections pleased with Meydan run.
Connections of Gitano Hernando are confident their five-year-old will improve again from his fast finishing third spot in last Thursday's Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
A Grade 1 winner at Santa Anita when a three-year-old in 2009, Gitano Hernando has yet to get his head back in front at the highest level, but connections feel his improvement in his two races in Dubai this year suggest he is coming back to his best, with a spokesperson adding:
"He was literally fat in his first race in Dubai, and while he has lost a lot of that condition thanks to the work being undertaken in preparation for his racing by trainer Marco Botti, he was still nowhere near 100% fit in last week's race.
"Jockey Johnnie Murtagh said after ther ace he thought there was still plenty left to work on, so his fast finishing third to a good horse like Twice Over was very pleasing, particularly as Johnnie didn't kgive him too hard a ride in the closing stages.
"The plan is to get him spot on for the Dubai World Cup in three weeks time, and having shown us in Thursday's race that he handles the course and distance of the World Cup, we now just have to worry about the opposition, and the one we feel we have to beat is Bold Silcvano."
totescoop6 rolls over again after Fine Parchment’s Newbury victory.
Saturday’s totescoop6 was not won which means there is a rollover of £285,084 in the win fund whilst the bonus pot has now reached £236,582.
Just nine tickets remained going into the fourth leg – the Wiltshire County Show Supporting Greatwood Handicap Chase – but none were on eventual winner Fine Parchment who repelled the late charge of Tail Of The Bank to score by half a length.
“Six competitive handicaps meant that this weekend’s totescoop6 was always going to be tricky to win but another rollover sees the pools grow once again as the bet creeps nearer the magic million mark,” said totepool spokesman George Primarolo.
A total of £264,000 was bet into Saturday’s pool and there were 47 winners of the bonus fund, each of whom picked up £1,123.40.
Murphy happy with Doncaster work-out.
Ferdy Murphy described himself as delighted with the post racing work-out he gave to his 8 Cheltenham bound runners at Doncaster yesterday afternoon.
The Middleham trainer's octet were given a lead by Kalahari King in the 2 mile gallop, with Riguez Dancer Divers and Hollow Ladies in close attendance for the majority of the spin. Divers actually headed the group at the line, with Riguez Dancer and Kalahari King in close pursuit. While Poker de Sivola made eye-catching late progress towards the end of the gallop.
Following the exercise, Ferdy Murphy commented:
"They all enjoyed stretching their legs on good ground on a racecourse, and I feel they are all heading in the right direction ahead of their respective trips to Cheltenham."
Fatal mistake takes Eric from us.
Popular chaser Eric's Charm was the sad casualty of a fatal mistake at the last fence in the back straight of yesterday's Blue Square Supporting Greatwood Veterans Handicap Chase at Newbury.
The thirteen-year-old was the winner of 12 of his 41 starts under rules, and was particularly good around Sandown, having finished second in the 2006 running of the Bet 365 Gold Cup, and having capped several handicap wins at the Esher track with a victory in the totesport.com Masters Chase just last month.
Trainer Oliver Sherwood had watched his charge splay his front legs after depositing Leighton Aspell on the turf at the fatal fence, and it was soon apparent this had caused a broken leg, with the trainer visibly shaken as he was informed his charge had been euthanised at the point of the fatal fall.
Peter Deal, who owned Eric's Charm in partnership with Martin St Quinton, said:
"He was a great servant who gave both of us a great deal of enjoyment. This kind of thing always seems to happen to the good horses, and we are truly sorry we will no longer be able to watch him bringing enjoyment to many."
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