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Quartz hands connections a tough decision.

For a horse who did not seem to like chasing when first tried over the larger obstacles, Quartz de Thaix proved in this afternoon's St Austell Brewery Novices Chase he's a completely different proposition right now. Jumping his fences in good style , he had turned today's Newton Abbot contest into a procession by the time he reached the 4 furlong from home marker, and after watching her charge complete an 18 length comfortable success under stable jockey Aidan Coleman, trainer Venetia Williams admitted she now has to talk to connections about a possible run at Cheltenham.

"He's got entries in the Centenary Chase and the Byrne Group Plate, and the 5 pound rise he will get for today's race gives him a good chance of getting into the handicap in both races. So I will have to speak to connections and discuss what they would like to do."

Solwhit scrubbed from World Hurdle.

After putting six time Grade 1 winning hurdler Solwhit through two pieces of work this morning, connections were not happy with what they saw as a sub-standard work-out, and consequently, Solwhit has been scrubbed from the list of entrants for the World Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Discussing the decision, trainer Charles Byrne's said:

"Solwhit just did not impress us this morning, and we've decided to pull the plug on his season. While it might have been interesting to see him race over 3 miles, the World Hurdle was a bit of an after thought. Having scrubbed him for the season, I would say that is likely to be the end of his hurlding career, and we are intending to send him novice chasing in the autumn."

Quito totally ground dependant.

Colm Murphy has indicated his progressive Quito de la Roque will run in the 4 mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival rather than the RSA chase, but even that engagement will depend entirely on the ground conditions for next week's meeting.

Explaining his position, the irish handler said:

"Quito de la Roque has only been beatne once because we have kept him racing on his preferred soft ground, and that one defeat in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Chase was to Boston's Angel, a horse I believe is a bit special. We've chosen to run Quito in the National Hunt Chase as I think if any horse has the stamina to stay 4 miles, it will be him, but if the ground for the festival becomes too fast, he will not even travel."

Neptune the objective for First Lieutenant.

Not seen on the track since beating Zaidpour and Hidden Cyclone in the Future Champions Novices Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, First Lieutenant is to be Mouse Morris's representative in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Elaborating on his choice of race, Mouse Morris said:

"The form of the Leopardstown race has worked out well, with Hidden Cyclone having won two Grade 2 races since, while Zaidpour has run well in Grade 1 company. First Lieutenant is an easy horse to train, and the only reason we havn't run him since Christmas is because he likes good ground.

"He's got entries in the Supreme Novices over 2 miles and the Albert Bartlett over 3 miles, but I think the 2 miles 5 furlongs of the Neptune Hurdle will suit him much better, and if the going is anywhere near good, I would give him a great chance."

Richards delighted with Saga spin.

Trainer Nicky Richards was very pleased with what he observed this morning when Dougie Costello put Premier Sagas through a pre-Cheltenham work-out, and it would seem the seven-year-old, owned by David Wesley Yates, (the owner of old favourite Monet's Garden), is now on target to line-up in the Centenary Novices Chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Premier Sagas has shown improvement all season, and his two recent consecutive victories, and the fact his stable are bang in form, would suggest a pleasing piece of work this morning should elivate him in most punters notebooks to the short list of potential winners of the Centenary Novices Chase.

Nicky Richards has also indicated his uncertainty over the next option for Saturday's Kelso Premier Chase winner Skippers Brig, with Richards explaining:

"He's ground dependant if we decide to go for the Stewart Family Spinal Research race at Cheltenham, and we will only consider that option if the going is soft. With regard to the Grand National, even after beating Ballabriggs on Saturday, I'm not sure if he's high enough in the handicap to guarantee a run in the National, and if he doesn't get in, then I'm not quite sure where we will go next."

Henderson plotting Aegean bonus raid.

Last seen defeating Champion Hurdle contender Mill Chief in November, Aegean Dawn is one of 4 Nicky Henderson-trained runners amongst the 40 entrants left standing their ground at today's 5 day decleration stage for Saturday's Imperial Cup at Sandown.

While Eradicate, Giorgio Quercus and Owen Glendower also represent the Sevenbarrows yard, Aegean Dawn is likely to be the one attempting to pick up the £75,000 bonus offered by Imperial Cup sponsors Paddy Power, and to collect, all Aegean Dawn has to do is win the Imperial Cup, and then add a win in a race at Cheltenham during the following week.

Henderson tried to win the bonus in 2009 when Dave's Dream failed on the Cheltenham leg of the double after winning the Imperial Cup, but Aegean Dawn put together 4 wins in a row in short order at the start of the current season, so if the six-year-old mare wins the Imperial Cup, she may be worth following if she takes up either of her entries in the Coral cup or Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Pipe family have trained 3 bonus winners between them, with Martin Pipe collecting in 1993 with Olympian and 1998 with Blowing Wind, while son David Pipe completed the double with Gaspara in 2007, and David Pipe has two opportunities to complete this year's £75,000 bonus double, with both Arrayan and Ronaldo des Mottes folliwing up their Imperial Cup entries with possible engagements at the Cheltenham Festival.

Meanwhile, the Evan Williams-trained Fiulin has no less than 7 Cheltenham entries to choose from if he is successful in the Imperial cup.

Lack of experience is Meade's main worry.

While ground considerations are a secondary worry to trainer Noel Meade ahead of Pandorama's intended run in next week's Cheltenham Gold Cup, the irish handler has admitted his eight-year-old's lack of experience over fences is his main concern prior to his trip to Prestbury Park.

Expanding on his current thoughts, Meade said:

"Pandorama has only had eleven runs in his career to date, and only four of them have been over fences, and while he has an impeccable strike rate having won 9 of his starts, I do worry about his lack of chasing experience.

"I would have preferred him to have run in the Irish Hennessy, but not having been in action since his win in the Lexus Chase is not a major problem, as he seems to run well when fresh. But in the Cheltenham Gold Cup he will come up against some of the best and most experienced chasers in training, and I just worry his lack of experience over fences may see him caught flat footed at crucial stages in the race.

"The going for the race is also a worry, as Pandorama is at his best on easy ground, and while the weather forecast suggest some rain, it only takes 24 hours of sun and a drying wind to change the going at Cheltenham, and I would be concerned if the ground were to change to the fast side of good by the time of the race on Friday week."

Silver to take his chance in Grand National.

Following discussions between owners Geoff and Joyce Brown and trainer Lucinda Russell and her partner, former top national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, the decision has been made to allow totesport.com Grand National Trial winner Silver By Nature to take his chance in the John Smiths Grand National at Aintree on 09 April.

However, Lucinda Russell has indicated there is one important proviso:

"We've all agreed to let Silver By Nature run in the Grand National, but we will only give him the final go ahead when we are certain the going is providing good safe jumping ground.

"There's no secret about the fact Silver By Nature is at his best on soft or heavy ground, and if it comes up that way at Aintree then that would be ideal. But realistically, we know officials at Aintree always try to ensure the going for the Grand National is safe for all the runners, and providing the going on the day is not too quick, we would probably allow Silver By Nature to take his chance.

"Since his win at Haydock in the National Trial, he has been eating up the gallops, and while that is not his usual style, I think he has taken a lot of confidence from his recent win, and if he does obtain the right going at Aintree, I would think he would have a real opportunity to show how good he can be in this type of marathon chase."

Cecil expects improvement from Twice Over.

Having had time to assess Twice Over after his clear cut victory in last Thursday's Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge on the Meydan tapeta artificial surface, Henry Cecil now expects his dual Champion Stakes winner to come on for his initial run, and having adopted a different approach to Twice Over's preparation for this season's Dubai World Cup, Henry Cecil is confident his six-year-old will be a major force in the world's richest race to be run on 26 March.

Expanding on his view, Cecil commented:

"In hindsight, we did the wrong thing sending Twice Over straight to last year's World Cup. We've taken our time getting him prepared this year, and he looked really good when winning in style from a wide draw last wweek. I feel there is still more to come from him, and having shown he handles the course and distance of the World Cup, I would say we are very hopeful that he will put in a big show on 26 March."

Kauto amongst Bet 365 Gold Cup entry.

Kauto Star is the biggest name amongst the 90 acceptors at the latest decleration stage for the Bet 365 Gold Cup to be run at Sandown on 23 April.

Kauto Star and Sir Alex Ferguson's What A Friend are the two big names amongst a total entry of 10 from the Ditcheat yard of Paul Nicholls, but fellow West Country trainer Philip Hobbs has the biggest single entry with 13 nominated horses, including recent Racing Post Chase winner Quinz, (who also has an entry in the Grand National on 09 April), and progressive novice chaser Wishful Thinking.

The race, worth a very impressive £140,000 has also attracted 13 entrants from Ireland, including last year's winner, the Michael Hourigan-trained Church Island.

Condon keen on Magen's Star.

Looking ahead to the Cheltenham Festival, jockey Davy Condon has indicated he fancies the chances of his mount Magen's Star if the six-year-old unbeaten mare gets her preferred soft going at Prestbury Park.

The Tommy Stack-trained front runner has obliterated her opponents in her two novice hurdle races this season, and she has entries in both the Supreme Novices Hurdle and the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, and Davy Condon is enthusiastic over the mare's chances, saying:

"I've won a Supreme Novices Hurdle before, and I think Magen's Star should have enough stamina to last out the 2 mile course at Cheltenham, but she will have to have cut. There is some rain forecast for later in the week, and I am hopeful it will keep the ground on the easy side. She has blistering pace on soft ground, and if she sees out the full trip, it will take a good one to peg her back."

Sir Brian boldly heading to Aintree.

Kinross based trainer Lucinda Russell was delighted with Bold Sir Brian's comfortable victory in Saturday's Kelso Premier Hurdle, and having won the same race as that taken by Peddlers Cross in 2010, Russell's five-year-old is going to take the same path to the John Smiths Mersey Novices Hurdle, with connections hopeful Bold Sir Brian will be as successful as Peddlers Cross in taking victory in the 2 mile 4 furlong contest at Aintree.

Discussing the plan for her charge, Lucinda Russell commented:

"He seems to be a progressive type, and Aintree should suit him. Whether he's as good as Peddlers Cross is another matter, but he's certainly earned a crack at the Mersey Novices Hurdle."

Meade would like realt Dubh to wipe away Society memory.

In 1998 Noel Meade thought his Hill Society had got up on the line to take victory over Champleve in the Cheltenham Festival Arkle Trophy, but the subsequent photograph showed Hill Socitey had just failed in his late lunge for victory.

Meade is now hoping Realt Dubh can at last give him success in a race he has come so close to winning in the past, and speaking earlier today about this year's stable entrant in the novice chasers 2 mile championship race , Meade said:

"Realt Dubh is a far better horse than Hill Society. He's already won two Grade 1 races and a Grade 2 race, and as he's such a well balanced horse, he can handle any kind of going. I know there is no such thing as an easy race at Cheltenham, and I'm ignoring those who tell me this year's Arkle entry is not as strong as in previous years. My job is to get Realt Dubh to Cheltenham at the top of his game, and if he then gets luck in running, I would be hopeful he can go one better than Hill Society."

Quinn happy with Cheltenham bound duo.

John Quinn has singled out Recession Proof and Moonlight Drive as the two entrants who offer him the best chance of success in the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

Discussing the relative merits of his Supreme Novices and Albert Bartlett entrants, Quinn reported:

"Recession Proof has improved again since his win in the Totesport Trophy, and while I respect his rivals in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, I know enough about our lad to say, I fear no other horse in the race, and I really think he will be the one to beat.

"Moonlight Drive has also come on a lot since his last win at Wetherby, but he will need to, as the field in the Albert Bartlett looks particularly strong this year, but if he gets it all together on the day, he has a definite chance of coming out on top."

Backstage makes a point ahead of Grand National.

Well in contention on the second circuit in last year's Aintree Grand National, Backstage made a costly mistake which saw him separated from partner Davy Condon, but trainer Gordon Elliott has always thought his nine-year-old was a potential winner of the Aintree marathon, and right from last April, Elliott immediately started plotting out a different preparation route for his charge ahead of this year's renewal of the world famous steeplechase.

Instead of preparation hurdle and steeplechase races, this season Elliott has used two Point-to-Point races to prepare his big National hope, and yesterday, Backstage completed his preparation in style, pulling clear of the Tony Martin-trained Newbay Prop in his race at the Pigeons in County Westmeath Point-to-Point Meeting.

After Backstage's success in his final preparation contest, trainer Gordon Elliott said:

"It might seem strange to suggest it, but the Grand National retains many of the attributes of an extended Point-to-Point race, and we thought we would prepare Backstage along those lines for this season's National. He's done absolutely everything right in his two prep races, and with his jumping looking a lot more sound this season, he now heads to Aintree with every chance."

Uttoxeter next for Benefit Night.

A Grade 2 winner in season 2006 - 2007, Benefit Night had failed to recapture that level of form in subsequent seasons, but off a mark 18 pounds lighter than his last win, the Danny O'Sullivan-trained eleven-year-old completed a start to finish front running victory in Sunday's Lucan Racing Leinster National at Naas.

A complete outsider in the betting market at 33-1, the gelding never saw another competitor, with Davy Condon having an armchair ride as he came home 11 lengths clear of runner-up Lurgan.

Following the race, winning trainer Danny O'Sullivan stated:

"He absolutely loved racing off such a low mark, and I would think he will now head to the Midlands National at Uttoxeter on Saturday week."

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News 07 March 2011