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Zaarito gets back in the groove.

With Zaarito having suffered two falls in his last two races, trainer Colm Murphy was keen for his young chaser to get back in the groove in today's Director's Plate Novice Chase at Naas, and the eight-year-old gelding duly obliged in matter of fact style.

Crusing and jumping welll, Davy Condon brought Zaarito to challenge at the second last, and he eased past long time leader Whatuthink before going on to score by six lengths.

Colm Murphy immediately suggested Zaarito would now be aimed at high class novice chases at the Fairyhouse and punchestown Festivals.

Coleman scores on Whodoyouthink.

Bouncing back from the broken leg incurred in a schooling exercise, jockey Kevin Coleman showed he still has plenty of talent if given the right kind of mount. Riding Whodoyouthink, who finished fourth to Dunguib on his last outing, Coleman made light work of today's www.naasracecourse.com Novice Hurdle, scoring in easy fashion by three and a half lengths from the staying on Stonemaster, and showing, if it were necessary, he is a jockey with plenty of ability.

Ballytrim gets his head in front in Leinster National.

The winner of the Ulster National in 2009, the Willie mullins trained Ballytrim had failed to sparkle in the early part of the current season, but given a good ride today by Paul Townend, the gelding took it up just before the last fence in today's Leinster National at Naas, and despite a sustained effort by Bluesea Cracker, the Mullins trained horse stayed on the stronger to score by half a length.

William Hill immediately cut Ballytrim into 33/1 from 50/1 for the Aintree Grand National, but with a current weight allocation of 10 stone 1 pound he is unlikely to make the cut for the race.

Cheltenham to start watering on Monday.

The current going at Prestbury Park ahead of the Cheltenham Festival is described by Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse as good to soft - good in places, and with no rain forecast for the next week, Claisse has decided to commence watering on Monday, with the intention of producing genuine good to soft ground for the first day of this year's four day Cheltenham Festival - due to commence on Tuesday 16 March 2010.

Stratford to hold Monday morning inspection.

With a sharp frost forecast for tonight, Stratford Clerk of the Course Stephen Lambert has decided to take a precautionary look at the West Midlands track at 9.00 am on Monday morning ahead of the proposed afternoon national hunt card.

Discussing his decision, Lambert confirmded,

"If we get a carbon copy of today's weather, the overnight frost should be showing signs of melting by 9.00 am, and we should be able to go ahead on Monday afternoon, but we have to take a precautionary look in case the temperatures are lower than prdicted and we then end up with problematic racing conditions."

Mann happy for Airforce to have Fairyhouse raid.

Charlie Mann has reported Airforce One is none the worse for his third fence falll in Saturday's Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, and although it has not provided the gelding with an ideal preparation, Mann confirmed:

"It was a disappointing fall because he was in great shape and he is usually a safe jumper. However, we will still go to Fairyhouse for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National providing the ground is not soft. I suppose if it did show cut at Fairyhouse we might look at the Aintree Grand National, and if he came through either of those contests in good shape we will probably look at the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown."

Sublimity to miss Champion Hurdle.

Sublimity, the 2007 winner of the Champion Hurdle, has suffered a suspensary ligament injury, and will now be stood down for the remainder of the season, meaning the ten-year-old will not get the opportunity to compete in this year's Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.

A disappointed Robbie Hennessy said,

"We are not sure how he injured himself, but the vets have told us he is currently lame and needs around 3 months rest, and of course this means he will be out for the rest of the season. Naturally we are all gutted. It's a real shame as he had a good gallop at Leopardstown this time last week. He was well, and had been running well all year, and the ground was just starting to come right. It is just one of those things, he could be sound again in a couple of weeks, but he needs time offf, or he could become lame again."

Scoop 6 rolls over again.

When Wogan won yesterday's Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, the remaining three ticket-holders left in the Totesport Scoop 6 wager were all eliminated. This was the second week in a row all interest was ended at the fifth leg, and it means £272,745 rolls over into next week's Win Fund, while the Bonus Fund will carry £116,890 - meaning next week's combined pool could offer a single winner the opportunity of collecting around £600,000 over the next two Saturdays.

Pipe runner to miss Cheltenham.

David Pipe has confirmed The Sliotar has been found to be lame, and after a veterinary consult, the handler has also confirmed his charge will now miss all of his proposed engagements at the Cheltenham Festival.

Noble Prince to seek County honours.

After consultation with connections, trainer Paul Nolan has indicated Noble Prince will seek honours in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle , and will forego his entry in the Coral Cup at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Noseda has Awesome winner in America.

After Awesome Act's win in Saturday's Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aquaduct Racecourse, Jeremy Noseda seems to have a genuine contender for the American Triple Crown.

The Newmarket based trainer sent his charge over to Santa Anita for last season's Breeders Cup, where Awesome Act managed a fourth place in the Juvenile event, but on Saturday's 'dirt' surface he seemed totally at home, and Noseda has confirmed he will now send his three-year-old back to America for the Wood Memorial Stakes on 03 April.

Devereux likely to have long absence.

Trainer Peter Bowen has reported his Conditional Jockey Donald Devereux is to have facial surgery today following his particularly nasty fall from Flash Harriet at the first flight in Saturday's sportingbet.com Novice Hurdle at Doncaster. The young jockey is understood to have smashed his cheek bone and jaw, and following his surgery he is likely to be sidelined from racing for several months.

Quinn very happy with Building build up.

Confirming Dougie Costello will accompany Character Building in the William Hill Trophy at this year's Cheltenham Festival, trainer John Quinn also indicated he was very happy with his charge, sayin,

"It is probably asking a bit much for Character Building to followup on last year's Kim Muir victory with another Cheltenham success in this year's William Hill Trophy, particularly as he has been limited by injury to one hurdle preparation run, but he is extremely welll, and the improving state of the ground will be to his advantage, and you never know." Quinn then added,

"Providing he comes out of the William Hill Trophy in one piece, he will then go to Aintree for the Grand National, and again, if he gets good ground, I would give him a big chance."