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Henderson and McCoy score at Exeter.

Emphasising their 'in-form' status ahead of next week's Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson and Tony McCoy combined their talents in the EBF Mares Novice Hurdlel to secure a 6 length win for 2-1 favourite Semi Colon in the first race on this afternoon's card at Exeter.

A winner of her initial Bumper race, the five-year-old, who was part of a job-lot bought from France, (a job-lot which included the well regarded Sprinter Sacre), had only managed two subsequent third places before her win today, but McCoy made good use of her on today's better ground, and while she is unlikely to become a world beater, Semi Colon looks like she might show better form on good ground in the spring, and she may well be worth following in her next couple of outings.

Zaynar confirmed for World Hurdle attempt.

Having won the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2009, and then having finished third in the 2010 Champion Hurdle, it had been assumed by many that Zaynar would race over 2 or 2 and a half miles at this year's Cheltenham Festival. But in a statement issued by part owner Victor Chandler's spokesperson Charlie McCann, it has been confirmed that Nicky Henderson's charge will step up to 3 miles to take onthe likes of Big Bucks and Grands Crus in the Ladbrokes sponsored World Hurdle.

With irish raiders Mourad and Fivefourthree also likely to line up for the 3 mile staying hurdle championship, this year's race looks like it could be the most competitive renewal for several years.

Somersby subject to Ryanair speculation.

With Henrietta Knight this afternoon indicating Somersby's objective at the Cheltenham Festival may switch from the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase to the Ryanair Chase, Coral have immediately reacted to the news by making the seven-year-old their 4-1 second favourite behind Poquelin for the Ryanair Chase.

Smith believes Ruby will make the difference to Kauto bid.

Kauto Star's owner Clive Smith has today indicated his belief that the return of Ruby Walsh to racing action could make all the difference to Kauto Star's attempt to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup, and in an interview, Smith said:

"Ruby seems to have a special relationship with Kauto Star, and I firmly believe that could make the difference in this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Now we know he bled during his attempt to win a fifth King George VI Chase in January, we can ignore that run, and we can base his chances at Cheltenham on the effort he put in for Ruby in the jnwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal back in November. He may now be an eleven-year-old, but he doesn't look like that when he gallops for Ruby on Paul Nicholls's Ditcheat training ground, and I think, reunited with Ruby, and having already won the race in 2007 and 2009, he may become the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a third time in five years."

Is it Grands or Great for Pipe.

David Pipe seems to think Grands Crus in the World Hurdle and Great Endeavour in the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase represent his two best opportunities of securing a victory at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

The usually ebullient trainer is more enthusiastic than ever over Grands Crus's chances in the World Hurdle, and in a progress report today, Pipe said:

"Grands Crus looks absolutely great, and I feel he really has the beating of Big Bucks next week. The plan is to get him to Cheltenham primed to perfection, and touch wood, everything looks great at the monent.

"We've decided to run Great Endeavour in the Steward Family Handicap as we think this will give him a great opportunity to win his first outing over 3 miles. He didn't perform that well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but he was much better the next time he ran against Poquelin, and as he's a very good horse, we feel a 3 mile handicap, even if it's at the Cheltenham Festival, is well within Great Endeavour's compass."

Chief attempting to rule again at Cheltenham.

Trainer Jimmy Moffatt is delighted with the way Chief Dan George has recovered from his pipe-opener in last Saturday's Kelso Premier Chase, and it would seem his charge will now head for the William Hill Trophy, renamed this year as the Stewart Family spinal Research Handicap chase, and a race Chief Dan George won last year at odds of 33-1.

Now having had time to assess Saturday's run, and map out future plans, Moffatt said:

"We were very satisfied with his third place behind Skippers Brig and Ballabriggs. He was giving weight to all his rivals, and he had to make the running, and that did not suit him, especially as 2 miles6 furlongs was an inadequate trip. It was his pipe-opener for his spring campaign, and in the circumstances, I was very pleased to see he was running on at the end.

"While his ultimate target this season is the John Smiths Grand National, he has come out of Saturday's race in such good shape, we will probably send him to Cheltenham for the race he won last year, and that should then set him up perfectly for a crack at the National at Aintree in April."

Extended break should not stop Alpha Beat.

Having not been seen in racing action since winning the Kerry National last September, Charles Byrnes has admitted he would have preferred to have given his Alpha Beat a run prior to his trip to the Cheltenham Festival for the National Hunt Chase, but as Byrnes explains:

"Alpha Beat absolutely hates soft ground, and all the suitable races in which he could have competed since September have been run on soft or heavy going. While it's not ideal to have a 182 day break between his races, he seems in great shape, and he should get his preferred good ground at Cheltenham.

"He goes into the National Hunt Chase off 5 straight wins, and while he's likely to come up against some smart novices, he has plenty of experience, and as the bookmakers have made him anti post favourite, they obviously think he has a great chance."

World debut for Souffleur.

The Peter Bowen-trained Souffleur had a productive season in 2009 - 2010, winning a rendlesham Hurdle before having to settle for second spot in the National Spirit Hurdle, and then behind Big Bucks at Aintree.

However, with Bowen realising his charge is not a horse who enjoys too much racing, Souffleur has been Deliberately kept back for a late campaign this season.

Discussing his plans for Souffleur, Peter Bowen commented:

"As he's a horse who has to be lightly raced, we had decided early on he would head straight to Cheltenham for the World Hurdle, and at the moment he is definitely on track to line-up with the likes of Big Bucks and Grands Crus next wweek. Providing he comes out of the Cheltenham race fit and well, the main objective is Aintree, and then he might go to Punchestown and possibly the French Champion Hurdle. I don't know if he will have improved enough to win one of the big races this spring, but I do know he is good enough to pick up a lot of valuable place prize money."

Hughes to join batle with Hannigan again.

Having returned from a very successful winter trip to India, where he won the Guineas, the Oaks, the Invitational, and the Bangalore Derby, Richard Hughes is due to renew his rivalry with Paul Hannigan, with the first two jockeys in the 2010 British Jockeys Championship due to ride against one another at the Kempton Park all weather meeting on Wednesday evening.

While Hannigan got his season off the mark with two victories at Wolverhampton last week, Hughes will hope his two rides, one each for Gay Kelleway and Giles Bravery, may give him a positive start to the new season.

Looking ahead to renewing his rivalry with Paul Hannigan, richard Hughes said:

"Riding a lot last season ensured my fitness levels, and after racing all winter in India, I come home as fit as a fiddle. As I don't want to lose any of my fitness levels, I thought I might as well get straight back to riding on the all weather circuit prior to the start of the turf season. While I didn't enjoy losing out to Paul by just two winners at the end of last season, you have to say he deserved the title, but I want to make it as tough as possible for Paul, and any other challengers, for this year's title, so I'm looking forward to hopefully getting straight back to winning ways this season.

"I have some exciting two and three-year-olds to look forward to riding for Richard Hannon this year, and going for a jockeys title is always easier when your riding good horses."

Millman banking on rain for Numide.

Since acquiring Numide at last May's Doncaster Sales, Rod Millman has set about rebuilging what was once a promising hurdling career, and after giving his new charge a rest, the West Country trainer has seen Numide finish second at Taunton and then win at Bangor on dee, and Millman now thinks Numide has a big chance in this Saturday's Paddy Power sponsored Imperial Cup at Sandown, providing the track receives some noticeable rain during the remainder of this week.

Discussing Numide's chances, Millman commented:

"Numide has to have ease in the ground to be at his best, and I am hoping the rain forecast for later in the week is significant enough to give us ground nearer soft than good for the Imperial Cup. He's an ideal horse for a fast run 2 mile race or a normally run two and a half mile race, and he's likely to get the former on Saturday.

"In his first race for us at Taunton, they daudled through the first part of the race, and then sprinted in the closing stages, and he did very well to get second spot on what was effectively his seasonal debut, and then he followed it up by getting back to winning ways at Bangor on dee, and I think he still has plenty left to offer if he can just get the right going for his races.

"If everything goes his way, and he wins the Imperial Cup, Plan A would be to go for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, as this would offer him the chance of winning the £75,000 bonus on offer from Paddy Power."

Murphy confirms Zeb is on course.

Despite having to watch his 2010 Cheltenham Champion Chase winner Big Zeb being beaten by Golden Silver in his most recent outing in the Tied Cottage Chase, the ten-year-old's trainer Colm Murphy believes there will be a reversal in the result when the two meet again in this year's sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Elaborating on his confidence, Murphy said:

"Big Zeb is a completely different horse on good ground, and while Golden Silver can hold him on easy ground, the Champion Chase field are likely to have to race on good going at Cheltenham, and I believe Big Zeb will have the measure of all his rivals when back on to his favoured surface.

"There was no fluke about the way he won last year's Champion Chase, and I believe I have him at about the same level of fitness for this year's renewal. So we go into the race expecting to win."

Colm Murphy may only have been training for 10 years, but he has already proved with his outstanding hurdler Brave Inca - the winner of both the Supreme Novices Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle - he can train his horses to achieve multiple success at the Cheltenham Festival. So if he feels Big Zeb can win the Champion Chase again this year, then the current 3-1 on offer may seem generous by the end of next week.

Powell hopeful he has a Shore thing.

Brendan Powell believes Shoreacres has come on again for his emphatic 28 length romp in a novices chase at Taunton 2 weeks ago, and the former jockey turned trainer has now earmarked the 2 mile Johnnie Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup for his promising young chaser.

Discussing his Cheltenham Festival plans, Powell said:

"Shoreacres would be my best hope of a victory, but Massini Man has also won his last 3 starts, and he has earned the right of a run in the Kim Muir. I'm considering Two Kisses for the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, but we have definitely decided to save Pullyourfingerout for Aintree and Punchestown."

Massive £2 million totejackpot expected at Exeter.

The totejackpot was not won at Ffos Las on Monday afternoon which means a staggering £989,008 rolls over to Tuesday’s meeting at Exeter where the total pool could break the £2million barrier. Monday’s turnover was £620,635 which puts it as the ninth highest turnover day in the history of the bet.

The rollover of £989,008 is the biggest since £1,127,824 was carried forward to the same course back in March 1995 and today’s total pool size could beat the record £2,308,852 that was set at Haydock last August.

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News 08 March 2011