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The good news keeps coming.

Kempton Park's turf course passed its early morning inspection, and Clerk of the Course Barney Clifford has confirmed tomorrow's scheduled turf national hunt meeting will go ahead.

After an inspection at 3.00 pm this afternoon, Huntingdon officials were encouraged sufficiently to take another look at 8.00 am tomorrow morning, and they put the chances of racing on Saturday afternoon as a sporting even money.

Horse Racing Ireland have also announced the Thurles fixtures which were cancelled due to frozen ground on Thursday 14 January and today - Friday 15 January, Have been re-scheduled , and will now take place on Sunday 17 January and Monday 18 January.

Fakenham Clerk of the Course David Hunter has decided to put back his inspection of the track until 8.00 am on Sunday, as he believes by that time all the frost will be out of the ground, and he will therefore be able to give Monday's scheduled meeting a 'green light'.

But there is some bad news.

After taking a look at his still snow covered course on Friday morning, Wetherby Clerk of the Course Jonjo Sanderson was left with no alternative but to call off Saturday's national hunt meeting.

Although this is bad news for the Yorkshire track, who have now lost four days of racing in the last month, hopefully, with a thaw now forecast for the British Isles, Wetherby's cancellation will be the last during this current winter.

Cheltenham still on the cards despite Shinrock setback.

Paul Nolan has today confirmed promising novice chaser Shinrock Paddy suffered a setback over the christmas holidays, but the trainer has also confirmed his progressive Charge is still on track to go to the Cheltenham Festival, albeit he will not have the luxury of a preparation race over the next eight weeks.

Turnell pondering handicap return for Bajan.

With Kempton Park now able to stage their original turf fixture tomorrow afternoon, Andy Turnell cannot run Blue Bajan as he had hoped in the alternative all weather Bumper Card which had been created as a fall back position if turf racing could not take place.

Left scratching his head as to what to do next, Turnell said,

"We could send Blue Bajan to Haydock for the Champion Hurdle Trial, but he would probably not like the likely soft ground, and we may have to consider giving him a couple of handicap outings before Cheltenham, with the Totesport Trophy as his major target in February".

Weight may not stop Duc de Regniere.

Following his third place behind Big Bucks in Newbury's Long Distance Hurdle, the Nicky Henderson trained Duc de Regniere has been given top weith for tomorrow's Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park, but the Sevenbarrows handler has secured the services of conditional jocky David Bass to take seven pounds offf his top weight, and although considered by Henderson to be a little under top class over hurdles, the handler thinks with tomorrow's allowance he may prove too good for his rivals.

Henderson is also represented by the improving Tasheba, and the trainer believes he also has realistic chances, saying,

"We have had to step him up in grade, as after his last win at Sandown the handicapper has made his handicap mark virtually impossible. He will benefit from the step up to two miles five furlongs, and with his progressive profile he could easily step up again".

Discussing his two runners - Keki Buku and Triggerman - trainer Philip Hobbs said,

"Despite the recent cold weather both horses have not missed a day's training, and will go into tomorrow's race in good shape. The soft ground should not inconvenience, and I expect both of them to go well".

Conversely, Andy Turnell admits Michael Flips goes into the Lanzarote short of a gallop, and he also has concerns over the step up in trip.

Initial test for Max Power.

Once considered a real prospect after winning his first two novice hurdle races in good style, the Nicky Henderson trained Max Power was then discovered to have breathing problems after flopping at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

The Sevenbarrows handler is now hopeful a breathing operation has been successful, and Max Power will get his chance to show if he has Cheltenham Festival potential as a chaser, for the eight-year-old lines up in tomorrow's williamhill.com Novice Chase at Kempton Park, and a clear cut win could see him catapulted into the betting for some of the major novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival.

Beaumont to hand reins to assistant Holmes.

Admitting his years are catching up with him, 75 year old Peter Beaumont has decided to bring the curtain down on his twenty four year training career, and at the end of the month he will not renew his training license, choosing instead to pass on his yard to current assistant trainer Patrick Holmes.

Having trained many important national hunt winners, including the 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Jodami, Beaumont was widely respected in racing circles, and all at Racingsight wish him a long and happy retirement.

Muirhead spring campaign dependant on Nass outing tomorrow.

Having split Solwit and Hurrican Fly at Punchestown on his first run of the season, Muirhead had been expected to go well in the Leopardstown December Hurdle by trainer Noel Meade, but he showed little in the Christmas Festival race, and eventually finished a disappointing fifth.

Meade now believes his spring campaign with Muirhead is now dependant on how his charge performs in tomorrow's Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas,

"To get his head in front at Naas he will have to reverse placings with De Valira on their last run. I certainly think he has the ability to do that, and a return to form will enable us to consider a whole range of races at the various Spring Festivals. I guess we will just have to see what happens and then make decisions after tomorrow's race".

Ballyholland starts Grand National preparation.

Last year's Galway Plate winner Ballyholland starts his preparation for a possible tilt at the Aintree Grand National when he lines up in a hurdle race at Naas tomorrow. Discussing his stable star, trainer Colin McBratney said,

"The ground will be heavy enough for him tomorrow, but he is in great shape, and I would be disappointed if he did not put in a good run. The plan is the Grand National, and if he comes out of the naas race in good order, we will look for a suitable chase before Aintree".

Meade hoping the real Aran Concerto will return at Fairyhouse.

Although express ing concerns the two mile one furlong Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday could be on the short side for Aran concerto, Noel Meade is hoping a return to a track where he has won on previous occasions may give 'the apple of his eye' the necessary boost to return to the top class form he showed prior to the start of the current season.

"Aran Concerto has shown he can win at Grade One level, but this season he has been disappointing in his two previous runs. I just hope a return to Fairyhouse will conjer up some of his old magic, and we can then look foreard to the Spring with some hope of major success".

Punjabi to take in Haydock Trial.

Based on all the comments coming from the various members of the team surrounding 2009 Champion Hurdler Punjabi, the gelding's next outing will be in the sportingbet.com Champion Hurdle Trial, due to take place at Haydock Park on Saturday week.

As he proved at Wetherby in the re-scheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle in December 2008, Punjabi likes a weide open course, and connections believe Haydock's galloping track will give the current champion the ideal preparation to defend his crown in March's Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.

Mullins downbeat over Cheltenham hopes.

Willie Mullins is publicly admitting he may be missing several of his major stars at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Hurrican Fly, the one time anti post favourite for the champion Hurdle, is still recovering from the suspensory ligament injury he suffered when third behind Solwit in his only outing this season, and Mullins thinks it very unlikely last season's unbeaten novice hurdler will be fit in time to compete at Prestbury Park in March.

Another of the Mullins unbeaten novices from last season, Mikael D'Haguenet, has suffered setbacks, and has still to have his debut this season, and even if starting his campaign in the next month, Mullins admits he is an improbable runner at the Cheltenham Festival.

Meanwhile, promising chaser Barker is still recovering from a stress fracture he suffered on his last outing, and Mullins has ruled him out completely from participation at Cheltenham.

However, amongst the gloom, former smart hurdler Cousin Vinny could provide a bright spot, for if he comes through Sunday's Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse in good style, Mullins is hopeful of getting him ready in time to line up in an appropriate novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Gowran on agenda for King Johns Castle.

Having only raced on two occasions since finishing as runner up to ComplyOr Die in the 2008 Aintree Grand National, trainer Arthur Moore is hopeful King Johns Castle will show enough in next week's Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park to suggest he could be a major contender in this year's Grand National. Moore said,

"He has come on a lot from his first run this season, and the longer trip of the Thyestes Chase should suit him. I know owner J P Mcmanus is keen to run him again at Aintree, and if all goes well next week, that will be his main target this year".

Betfair to sponser Cheltenham Festival Trials Races.

Betfair today announced they are to sponsor three races on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 30.

The £27,000 Grade Two Betfair Finesse Juvenile Hurdle (12.55pm), the £50,000 Grade Two Betfair Cleeve Hurdle (3.45pm) and the £50,000 Grade Three Betfair Trophy Handicap Chase (2.05pm), the last two of which will be shown live on Channel 4 television, will form part of a highly competitive and informative seven-race card, on what is the last day of racing at Cheltenham prior to The Festival in March.

Under its Timeform banner, Betfair already sponsors the £22,500 Timeform Novices Chase on Festival Trials Day and Cheltenham Radio, powered by Timeform, broadcasts live from the racecourse at all of the major fixtures at Cheltenham each season.

Peter McNeile, Cheltenham’s Director of Sponsorship, said:

“We’re delighted that our excellent relationship with Betfair and Timeform is being extended through additional sponsorship on what is arguably the best one-day fixture in the Jump racing calendar.”

Tony Calvin, Betfair’s Head Of Media, added:

“Festival Trials Day is an outstanding race meeting in its own right, and invariably provides plenty of clues for the big races to come in March. Indeed, given the recent freeze and abandonments, the meeting promises to be more crucial than ever for connections in finalising their Festival entries”. Calvin added,

“We’re delighted to add these three excellent races to our sponsorship portfolio for 2010, and to team up with Cheltenham on such a prestigious day in the racing calendar.”