Kelso gave it every chance.In an attempt to stage the first national hunt meeting in the UK for over a week, Kelso officials reinspected the course at around 10.30 a m, but unfortunately, there was still frost on the racing surface, and the officials were left with no option but to cancel today's meeting. Warwick off - but others hopeful.Warwick was still frozen solid this morning, and following an inspection, course officials were left with no option but to cancel tomorrow's planned fixture. On a brighter note; Punchestown are inspecting this morning to assess chances for tomorrow's card, Wetherby are hopeful the milder weather will come in time to save tomorrow's card, but it will be subject to a Saturday morning inspection, while Ayr have confirmed tomorrow's new fixture will definitely go ahead, providing the weather people are correct with their current forecast. Punchestown and Carlisle in the balance.Following a late morning inspection today, Punchestown reported the course was still frozen, and unless the predicted thaw comes in time, tomorrow's meeting is in major doubt. To give the warmer incoming air every chance, officials at Punchestown will inspect again at 7.30 a m tomorrow morning. Carlisle are also hoping for a rapid thaw. Managing Director John Baker says the meeting due for Sunday is currently about fifty fifty, and a further inspection will take place at 2.00 p m tomorrow. Leopardstown very hopeful!With milder weather forecast for the weekend, Leopardstown officials were this morning fairly confident Sunday's card, including the valuable Pierse Handicap Hurdle, will go ahead as planned. Northern Racing joins Value for Valour Scheme.The ten racecourses managed by the Northern Racing Group, (Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, the new turf course at Ffoslas in South Wales, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Newcastle, Sedgefield, and Uttoxeter), are to join the Value for Valour Scheme. This excellent programme enables our armed service personnel - including Army, RAF, Navy, and Terratorials - to secure on race days two Premier Enclosure tickets for the price of one. To obtain their free ticket, all service personnel have to do is either, book their tickets by telephone with any of the ten participating racecourses, or book tickets on-line through www.northernracing.co.uk, then when they arrive at the racecourse, they go to the ticket office, show their service id card, and pick up their tickets. Northern Racing officials believe it is the very least they can do for our brave service personnel, and of course, as children under 16 already get in free of charge, it allows a young service family to gain a great day out for the price of just one ticket. We say, well done Northern Racing! Growing petition should make BBC think again.It is reported, the petition on the Number 10 Downing Street website requesting the BBC rethink their proposed cuts in horse racing coverage has reached monster proportions, but to ensure the BBC get the message, we urge you to put your name to the campaign. Just log on to - http://petitionsnumber10.gov.uk Carberry confident about Turner.In an expression of mutual professional solidarity, Nina Carberry, the top professional national hunt female jockey in Ireland, has expressed her hope Hayley Turner, the Golden Girl of UK flat racing, will get her wish to ride in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Commenting yesterday, Carberry said, " Hayley is a great jockey, and I have no doubt she would do well in the Bumper if on a good horse". As we said in our news story earlier in the week, we have a feeling Hayley will get her wish to ride in the Bumper! Arena again involved in Merger speculation. .In recent days, Arena Leisure, who manage seven UK racecourses, have indicated they are getting on top of their on-going financial problems, but speculation arose again yesterday, the group may be in early merger discussions with Sportech of Liverpool. Ffoslas Annual Member tickets to go on sale.As Ffoslas, located in South Wales, is the first new turf course to launch in the UK for over eighty years, there is bound to be a great deal of interest in its first year fixtures. From next Thursday, 15 January, the Annual Membership tickets for the eight meetings planned between June and December are due to go on sale. The price of each ticket is £100, and this includes the predicted sell out first meeting on 18 June, plus the Official Opening Meeting on Friday 28 August. Denman Grand National punt may be premature.In an interview with teletext, Paul Nicholls has poured some cold water on the possibility of Denman's participation in the Aintree Grand National. The trainer has indicated the Grand National entry is a back up plan, and Denman's first priority is to recapture his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown, but if he should not run, or fall during the Cheltenham race, then the Aintree run becomes more likely. This will not come as good news to the large number of punters who have supported Denman into anti post favouritism for this year's Grand National. Gillespie not disappointed.Having analysed there early figures regarding the Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham racecourse have confirmed the economic recession has adversely effected the comparative number of requests for hospitality at the forthcoming 2009 Festival, but Managing DirectorEdward Gillespie has indicated the figures are better than he expected, so he is hopeful the eventual attendances at this year's celebration of national hunt racing will once again be substantial.
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