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Notra Pere virtually ruled out of Irish National.
Jim Dreaper has confirmed, unless there is considerable rain between now and Monday, his Welsh Grand National winner Notra Pere will not be asked to carry top weight on dry ground in Monday's Irish Grand National.
This news could cause the defection of other runners as increased weight would move down the handicap, thus making some runners less attractively handicapped for the race.
More Cheltenham winners lining up Punchestown targets.
Tom Cooper has today indicated Arkle Trophy winner Forpadydeplasterer could take on the older chasers in the Kerrygold Champion Chase on 28 April.
It is also rumoured connections of Ryanair Chase winner Imperial Commander are also aiming their Cheltenham winner at the Guinness Gold Cup.
Delegator turns in fantastic work out.
Already favourite for next week's Craven Stakes, Delegator was seen to turn in a fantastic piece of work on the gallops this morning, and as punters piled in, the bookmakers ran for cover.
For full details on today's price movements, click here
Scoop Six to celebrate five hundredth anniversary.
First offered to the betting public on Saturday 24 July 1999, the now established racing institution of the Saturday Scoop Six will this weekend markits five hundredth anniversary. The bet has raised a staggering 157 million pounds, with 110 million pounds being paid out in winnings, and along the way, the bet has also created ten individual millionaires.
In addition, over the last ten years, the bet has enabled Totesport to put millions back into racing in the form of increased prize money and improved amenities and facilities.
To celebrate Saturday's anniversary, Totesport will be providing the opportunity for punters to have free attempts at winning this week's Win Fund, currently standing at around three hundred and seventy four thousand pounds. Free entry slips will be available in Totesport shops, at participating bookmaking firms, and via Totesports on-line and telephone operations.
Bob in line-up for Fairyhouse prize.
Paul Nolan's See U Bob was an impressive winner of the leopardstown.com Handicap Hurdle back in February, and he is now among the twenty six runners included in the line-up for next Tuesday's ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle after today's final forfeit stage.
The highlight of Tuesday's card at Fairyhouse, the ninety thousand euro prize has also attracted Charles Byrne's Grade 2 winning chaser Carthalawn, who is reverting to hurdles for this race, and Tom Mullins's Time Electric, an impressive eight length winner of his last race at Gowran Park.
British raider Stradbrook and Silk Hall both competed in the County Hurdle, and some of the form of that race has held up well, so on the book, both have chances in Tuesday's race.
BHA to complete streamlining.
Subject to board approval, from 01 May the British Horseracing Authority will take over the running of the regulation of horse racing in the British Isles. Currently, this is a task performed by the original Regulatory Committee first established when the Jockey Club amalgamated with the RHA. In essence, this will also mean the BHA will then combine the governance and regulation of horse racing in one single authority, with all committee's formerly reporting to the Regulatory Committee now reporting directly to the members of the BHA main board.
As part of the change, the BHA is to set up a Rules Sub Committee, who will then take a good long look at the existing rules of racing, before making any suggestions to the main board on potential amendments. The new sub committee will also consider the current penalty structure, and will also make suggestions on any changes they think are warranted.
The board members have also taken up the recommendation in Dame Elizabeth Neville's Review of the BHA, to create the new position of Disciplinary Officer.
The new appointee will be Patrick Russell, the senior partner at Charles Russell LLP, who has already been involved in the regulation of racing for many years.
This new role, a personal appointment, will involve Patrick in reviewing all potential disciplinary cases, before taking the final decision as to whether a prosecution should be initiated, along with the nature of the charges to be brought. He will also take prosecutionary decision in the course of disciplinary proceedings, and he will also decide as to whether decisions made by local racecourse stewards should be referred to the BHA disciplinary panel for review.
Captain Ramius to face eight rivals.
Formerly with Mark Wallace, and now with Simon Callaghan, the unbeaten Captain Ramius is to face eight rivals in Saturday's Easter Stakes at Kempton Park.
Having not yet proved himself over the one mile trip, Captain Ramius could have his work cut out to defeat the Mark Johnston trained Saint Arch, who is already a course and distance winner, and Champagne, who was only two and three quarter lengths behind Mafaaz in the Kempton Kentucky Derby Trial.
Certainly, a win in Saturday's Listed contest would set Captain Ramius up for possible Group honours during the remainder of the season.
Masterminded could head to Punchestown.
With the national hunt Order of Merit as a target, it is believed Paul Nicholls originally intended to send dual Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Masterminded to compete in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on the twenty fifth of this month, but the trainer has realised, even if Masterminded wins that race, he will still remain one point behind present leader Voy Por Ustedes in this year's Order of Merit competition.
Taking this into consideration, connections are now thought to be looking at the bigger prize of the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown on 01 May, but it is believed Masterminded would only compete in the Punchestown Grade One contest if the going were on the soft side of good.
Carberry set to return on Sunday.
Jockey Paul Carberry is now fully recovered from the collapsed lung and rib injuries he suffered as a result of his thirteenth fence fall from Jaamid in Cheltenham's Jewson Novices Handicap Chase, and his agent Ciaran O'Toole has reported he will return to race riding at Sunday's meeting at Fairyhouse.
Meehan delighted with Crowded House development.
Current Epsom Derby favourite Crowded House is reported to be taking his training regime in fine style, and trainer Brian Meehan is reported as saying, "He looks magnificent, and has developed into a 'real horse'".
As Crowded House is expected to be a top middle distance three year old, it is understood the Dante Stakes at York may be the preferred option for an initial run, rather than the mile of the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas.
Coronation for Look Here.
Last year's unexpected thirty three to one Epsom Oaks winner Look Here is among thirty two entries for this season's Coronation Stakes.
Having proved she handles the unusual contours of the Epsom circuit, trainer Ralph Beckett has obviously persuaded connections to give her a seasonal debut over the same course and distance as the Oaks, thereby giving the filly the opportunity to duplicate last year's heroics in this year's Coronation.
Nacarat to face Kauto Star in King George.
Tom George has confirmed he plans to run his up and coming Nacarat against Kauto Star in this year's King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
"We were goind to run him in the race last Decembe", commented the trainer, "but we thought it would ruin his handicap mark for the Racing Post, so in hindsight, we made the right decision".
" The plan this year is to have one run prior to Kempton, and providing he is one hundred per cent, we will take on Kauto Star in the race he seems to have made his own".
Kauto Star's trainer Paul Nicholls has already indicated his three time King George winner will start his season with a repeat appearance at Down Royal on 07 November, and will then go straight to Kempton in an attempt to equal Desert Orchid's record of four victories in the Christmas chasing highlight.
Fallon given Fantasia preparation task.
Luca Cumani yesterday provided former champion Kieran Fallon the opportunity to give his top three year old filly Fantasia a real work-out prior to her run in next week's Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket's Craven meeting.
It is understood the session went very well, and Fantasia will be in peak condition for her return to the track. In addition to fitness, Fantasia will also be aided in next week's Group 3 race by the undoubted abilities of her race partner Frankie Dettori.
George making plans.
Tom George was delighted with Tartak's win at Aintree last week, but after discussions with connections, he believes his novice chaser has had more than enough racing for the current season. Consequently, Tartak has been given an early pass to the summer paddocks.
"Giving him an early rest should enable us to bring him back in around the end of July, and then we can prepare him for several possible targets in November. If he keeps on progressing, we could also consider the major Grade 1 chases in the spring of 2010".
The trainer is also considering whether to run his Grand National entry Kilbeggan Blade before the end of the current campaign.
"He was jarred up in the Grand National, and he is still sore, so the Scottish National is out of the question. If he recovered in time, and the going at his favoured track of Sandown had some cut, we may consider running him in the Bet 365 Chase".
Howard Johnson sends Tidal Bay for full medical assessment.
It has to be said, after two comprehensive back to back wins in Grade 1 contests at Cheltenham and Aintree at the end of his 2008 2009 novice chasing season, Tidal Bay has been a major disappointment this national hunt campaign. Indeed, pundits like John Francome have indicated he could be struggling with some problem which effects his action and jumping ability.
Having observed this apparent 'cut-out' during this season's races, trainer Howard Johnson has decided a full medical assessment of his charge is required before he goes to his summer paddocks. To complete this investigation, it is understood Tidal Bay will next week undergo exhaustive tests in an attempt to isolate any particular medical reasons for his apparent drop off in form.
Hamilton Park offer spectators a double bonus.
Scottish racecourse Hamilton Park have this morning announced the completion of a hone hundred and twenty thousand pound refurbishment of important areas of their overall facilities. Amongst the improvements are; an upgrading of the racecourse's thirteen corporate hospitality boxes, provision of new public toilets, refurbishment of the Annual Members Bar, extensions and upgrading of facilities in the Panorama Bar, and the upgrading of the media facilities, including wi-fi access.
This year's improvements represent a twenty per cent increase on the 2008 pre season expenditure, and is a clear sign of the Hamilton executive's determination to constantly improve its racecourse facilities for all visitors.
Furthermore, with a clear grasp of the economic problems currently facing the majority of the population, Hamilton have also decided on the prudent move of cutting their entry prices by an average of fourteen percent for the nineteen meetings currently scheduled for the 2009 flat racing season.
William Hill delighted with Rights take-up.
In view of the prevailing down-turn in economic activity, particularly on the stock market, William Hill are reported to be absolutely delighted with the 97.4 % take-up of their shares offered for sale in a new 'Rights' issue in February of this year.
The additional funding puts William Hill not only in a strong position financially, it also enables them to contemplate growth strategies while others have to consolidate, and companies who grow during a recession invariably end up as market leaders as the economy recovers.
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