Untitled Document

For the best travel deals to North America & the West Indies:

Teeming Rain seems to like Devon.

For a second successive year, the J P Mcmanus owned Teeming Rain came with a late burst to deny Present M'Lord in this afternoon's Elizabeth Finn Devon National Chase at Exeter.

The jonjo O'Neill trained gelding won today's renewal by two and a half lengths, with Helm coming in third behind the gallant Present M'Lord.

Jonjo O'Neill said after the race,

"I don't know what it is, but Teeming Rain seems to like it at Exeter, and I am just grateful we managed to land such a nice prize again."

Nicholls believes ground will suit Pepe Simo Imperial challenge.

After landing his first three outings as a novice hurdler, Paul Nicholls moved Pepe Simo up into Grade One class in the Kempton Christmas Hurdle, but in a race eventually won by Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native, Pepe Simo could only finish fifth, but his trainer now puts that down to unsuitable ground conditions, a problem he willnot face in Saturday's Paddy Power sponsered Imperial Cup.

Discusssing his chances in Saturday's competitive Sandown hurdle, Nicholls said,

"Pepe Simo is a definite runner in the Imperial Cup and we have been waiting for better ground for him, but we have not made ourminds up yet as to whether Pistolet Noir will participate. The ground was too soft for Pepe Simo in the Christmas Hurdle, and while I'm not thinking any further than the weekend for him, Cheltenham could be a possible for him as well. He will be confirmed for the Supreme Novices and the County Hurdle, and as I don't know at the moment which one I prefer, we will make our minds up after Saturday's race."

Twist & Thornton combination looking good.

Co-owner Barry Fulton reported he was very impressed with the way Twist Magic and Robert Thornton workd in tandem when the jockey tooke a training spin on his Queen Mother Champion Chase partner earlier today.

Having already won the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chases this season, Twist Magic is arguably in the best formof his life, and according to Fulton,

"Twist Magic and Robert Thornton looked made for each other in this morning's schooling session, and I have a suspicion this could be their year. We know how good Masterminded can be, but Twist Magic has done everything right this season, and with robert's experience around Cheltenham, they could prove to be a winning combination in this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase."

Boylesports to sponser Punchestown first day.

boylesports.com are to be the new official sponsers of the first day of the 2010 Punchestown Festival. The firm will now become the sponsers of the main race on Tuesday 20 April, with the title of the Grade One race being changed to the boylesports.com Irish Champion Chase.

Mullins hoping for Lucky 7.

Having won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper on six previous occasions, Willie Mullins is lining up four Fairyhouse winners to make it Lucky 7 in 2010.

Day of a Lifetime, Bishopsfurze, Up Ou That All On Target, and the returning Lios A Chioll could be the four representatives from the Mullins yard, and reading between the lines, Bishopsfurze is the preferredoption on good going.

However, Mullins seems to think it is Edward O''Grady's representative Shot from the Hip who will take all the beating in this year's Champion Bumper - But is that false modesty?

Carberry to step in for Fallon.

After initially agreeing to ride Old Macdonald for his former neighbour Noel Glynn in next week's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, former Flat Champion Jockey Kieran Fallon has now told Glynn he will not be returning from Dubai. But as luck would have it, Noel Meade has no representative in the race, and Paul Carberry has therefore agreed to take the ride on Old Macdonald.

Cawley gets timely 'all clear'.

Alain Cawley has been told he can ride again this weekend after making a faster than anticipated recovery from a broken collar bone. The jockey incurrd the injury when being brought down while partnering Dapper Dan at the second flight in a Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle on 20 February.

In a suprise statement issued this morning, Cawley said,

"I saw a specialist this morning, and he told me I could return to action. I'll be riding out starting tomorrow morning,and I'll be race riding again this weekend."

Cawley was very keen to get back into action, as he has some very good prospects at next week's Cheltenham Festival, including; Shinrock Paddy in the albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, Noble Prince in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, and Chicago Grey in the Coral Cup.

Harry to take on Albert at Cheltenham.

After watching his star novice hurdler Restless Harry complete his last piece of major work prior to the Cheltenham Festival, Stratford based trainer Robin Dickin confirmed with the current ground conditions likely to remain good, he intends to race Restless Harry in the three mile Albert Bartlett Hurdle rather than the shorter Neptune Investmen Management Novices Hurdle.

Speaking after the training session, Dickin commented,

"Restless Harry is in great shape, and all things considered, we will now go for the Albert Bartlett. After his session this morning I put him in a field for a bit of peace and quiet, and I am confident he will go to Cheltenham in fantastic shape."

Catterick will hold a purely precautionary look.

Although the track at Catterick is currently raceable, and the forecast for tonight is promising, with frost having been a common occurrence over the last few nights, Catterick Clerk of the Course Fiona Needham has decided, ahead of the scheduled afternoon meeting, she will hold a purely precautionary inspection of her track at 8.00 am on Wednesday morning.

Findlay issues Beshabar Coral warning.

Owner Harry Findlay has warned potential punters current Coral Cup anti post favourite Beshabar is unlikely to run at Cheltenham unless their is genuine soft ground.

A winner of his last two outings at Sandown and Ascot, Beshabar has proved himself to be one of Paul Nicholls's most progressive horses this season, but as Findlay points out:

"He is much better over hurdles on genuine soft ground, and we will not risk him in this season's Coral Cup if the going has no genuine cut. The intention is to send him novice chasing in 2011, and if he gets to next season's RSA Chase on soft ground, we will all be lumping on him."

With the current weather forecast suggesting no rain during this week, based on Harry Findlay's comments, it would seem Beshabar is an unlikely runner in the Coral Cup unless there is an unexpected downpour prior to the start of the Cheltenham Festival.

According to Williams Weird Al is 'bouncing'.

While many trainers are reporting problems with their star performers ahead of next week's Cheltenham Festival, Ian Williams is just delighted with the form being shown by his unbeaten Weird Al ahead of next week's RSA Chase.

"Paddy Brennan is coming down to give him his last full schooling exercise on Wednesday, then apart from a short schooling programme on Friday, he will be ready for the Festival. His unbeaten run this season has included two wins at Prestbury Park, so the RSA course will definitely suit him. He has performed well in all three of his previous races this season, but I have to say, he is really 'bouncing' at the moment, and regardless of the quality of the opposition in the race, he must have a genuine chance of winning this year's RSA Chase."

Williams also has Haydock Park winner Fredo in the Pertemps Hurdle Final, but he feels his gelding's chances of a Cheltenham victory have been done no favours by the handicapper,

"He has been raised 10 pounds for his Haydock win, which I think is a bit harsh, and will certainly dent his chances of winning the Pertemps Hurdle."

Mullins hopeful Blackstair can step up.

While Philip Fenton's unbeaten Dunguib is understandably all the rage in the betting for the Spinal Injuries Supreme Novices Hurdle, Willie Mullins is said to be very hopeful Blackstair Mountain can step up in what will be only his second novice hurdle.

A winner of five bumper races and two flat races prior to his very impressive initial victory over hurdles at Leopardstown in January, many pundits would suggest Blackstair Mountain lacks the experience to trouble Dunguib in what will be a fast run ultra competitive first race of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

However, Willie Mullins has an unrivalled pedigree at getting his horses ready for the major races at Cheltenham, and discussing Blackstair Mountain he commented,

"He has plenty of speed and the gears necessary to win a Supreme Novices Hurdle, and while he has very limited experience over timber, he seems to be a natural, and it looks as if he will get his preferred good ground. I accept Dunguib will be hard to beat, but if Blackstair Mountain gets a clear run, I think he could be the one to challenge Dunguib in the closing stages."

Cumani delighted with presvis progress.

Luca Cumani is apparently delighted with the condition of Presvis following last week's victory in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, and the Newmarket handler has declared it is now all systems go for a crack at the Emirates Airlines Dubai World Cup on 27 March.

Carberry returns to race riding at Naas.

Jockey Paul Carberry, who is due to ride Cheltenham Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native next week, is due to return to race riding at tomorrow's national hunt meeting at Naas.

Having suffered an ankel injury, Carberry tried to return at Fairyhouse on 23 February, but he had to stop after only two rides when he started to get considerable pain in the injured joint. The jockey has now had additional physiotherapy, and after riding out at the weekend, he reported he was once again 100% fit, but with the Go Native ride being worth a potential million pound bonus if he can win the Champion Hurdle, Carberry has allowed an extra three days before actually getting back into racing action. Discussing the situation, Carberry said,

"With so much at stake next week, I wanted to make sure I was 100% fit before I got back into competitive action, but I feel great and I am looking forward to racing at Naas on Wednesday."

Eagle Mountain retired after another injury setback.

Formerly with Aidan O'Brien, the Mike de Kock trained Eagle Mountain is to be retired after picking up another career threatening injury. Nursed back by de Kock from original injury problems to finish second behind Conduit in the 2008 Breeders Cup Turf, Eagle Mountain went on to win the Group One Hong Kong Cup in the same year, but in recent times his racing career has been interupted by a series of injury setbacks, and as de Kock says,

"Enough is enough. He has given Sheikh Mohammed plenty of fun over the last two years, but the time has come to retire him from racing. I understand discussions are in hand to find him a breeding berth, and I have no dout he will make a success of that role in due course."

Leighton Aspel to miss Cheltenham.

Experienced national hunt jockey Leighton Aspel has learnt he willmiss the Cheltenham Festival following his fall from Oliver Sherwood's Pacco in Leicester's John O'Gaunt Chase.

Aspel has been informed he lacerated his kidney during his fall, and he is now likely to be stood down for at least three weeks, which obviously excludes him from next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Locals side with Denman.

In a straw poll of the native inhabitants of the village of Ditcheat, the people surrounding Paul Nicholls's yard believe by 51% to 49% Denman will win this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

With Kauto Star a very strong odds on favourite, and Denman a drifting 4/1, this is a very interesting observation by the local population, and it makes one wonder what they have observed in recent training gallops.