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Edge taken off Nicholls double.

Top trainer Paul Nicholls marked the return of turf national hunt racing with a brace of victories as his duo The Minack and Fristal Beach landed a double for the Ditcheat yard.

However, the shine was taken off the day when Lanxarote Hurdle faller Shamari collapsed and died in the racecourse stables at Kempton. A phlegmatic Nicholls later commented,

"That's racing! You have to take the good and the bad".

Thurles receives go ahead.

After an inspection this afternoon, Irish Turf Club officials have confirmed tomorrow's six hurdle and one bumper race card can go ahead, albeit on going officially described as 'heavy'.

Providing there is no further torrential rain, it is also expected Monday's all chase card will also be given the green light.

Denman not on McCoy agenda.

A P McCoy has moved quickly today to deny rumours suggesting he has been lined up by connections to ride Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. McCoy said,

"I don't know how these rumours start, but I can say for certain I have not been approached to ride Denman in the Gold Cup".

However, the fourteen time champion jockey did state he was really looking forward to renewing his partnership with the Edward Harty trained Captain Cee Bee in this year's Arkle Trophy. It will be interesting to see what reaction this comment makes in the anti post market for the race.

Turnell worried unnecessarily about Micheal.

In Racingsight's Friday news section trainer Andy Turnell indicated he was worried the step up in trip on soft going along with a lack of a gallop at home might prove too much for Micheal Flips in this afternoon's williamhill.com Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park - Well, he should not have worried!

Taking it up from the front running Gee Dee Nen at the end of the back straight, Micheal Flips kept extending all the way to the line, and eventually ran out an eight length winner over race favourite and top weight Duc de Regniere, while the gallant bottom weight Gee Dee Nen stayed on for third.

Mad Max shows breathing operation has been a success.

Nicky Henderson was reported to be very happy with the way Mad Max won the williamhill.com Play Poker Novices Chase at Kempton this afternoon. A very promising hurdler, the eight-year-old suffered breathing problems which required an operation during the summer of 2009. Based on today's debut over fences, the procedure has been a great success.

Coming alongside Fiendish Flame at the end of the back straight, Mad Max soon went on with rival Mahonia, but despite a mistake at the second last, the Henderson charge always seemed to have control of the race, and went on to score by four lengths in good style.

Tazbar very impressive at Huntingdon.

Further to the story below - Keith Reveley will be very happy with the way Tazbar disposed of his rivals at Huntingdon this afternoon. Coming to the fore at the second last in today's Bet Totepool To Support Your Sport Novices Chase, he soon looked different class as he cleared away from his rivals, and the success pays a major compliment to Long Run, who dismissed Tazbar by thirteen lengths in the Feltham Novices Chase over Christmas.

Quinlan bounces back with rapid success.

Conditional Jockey Mark Quinlan may have suffered a broken leg in October, but he took his return to race riding in his stride as he scored by two lengths on Meet Me At Dawn in this afternoon's Huntingdon Welcomes Back Jump Racing Conditional jockey's Handicap Hurdle at the rain soaked Cambridgeshire venue.

Plumpton forced to inspect.

Heavy overnight rain on top of melting snow has caused sections of Plumpton's course to become waterlogged, and consequently, an 8.00 am inspection of the racing circuit has been called on Sunday morning to assess as to whether Monday's fixture can go ahead.

Punchestown Wednesday fixture a lready in jeopardy.

An inspection at Punchestown today has found the course is waterlogged, and there is now serious doubt as to whether the circuit will dry out in time to allow next Wednesday's scheduled meeting to go ahead.

It is understood the situation will be monitered over the next couple of days, with a formal inspection planned for Monday.

Nicky Richards opens satellite yard.This weather is difficult stuff!

With his main Greystoke stables base in penrith still effected by overnight frost which is making training very difficult, Nicky Richards has opened a satellite yard at Geoff Wragg's International overflow facility in Newmarket.

Richards is reported to have moved ten horses into the facility, with the most noteable being; Money Trix, Monets Garden, According to John, and Skippers Brig.

No sooner do we have our promised thaw, than racing gets hit by waterlogging. Today's turf national hunt card at Naas has been put back to Tuesday, (with Monday morning declerations) as heavy overnight rain has left the course waterlogged, and made the track unraceable for today's scheduled fixture.

Fakenham gets green light for Monday.

Fakenham Clerk of the course David Hunter this morning confirmed the East Anglian course is now fit for racing after the snow and frost, and Monday's turf national hunt race meeting goes ahead as scheduled.

Scoop Six goes ahead with all turf line up.

After worries earlier this morning that Huntingdon would not survive potential waterlogging, Totesport have breathed a sigh of relief as the six races for this afternoon's Scoop Six wager have been confirmed.

With five winners from last week competing for the Bonus Fund of just over £103,000 the rest of us will have to settle for trying to win a new Win Fund for this Saturday. The first step will involve finding the winners of the following six races:

Leg 1 - 2.05 pm Kempton Park.

Leg 2 - 2.25 pm Huntingdon.

Leg 3 - 2.45 pm Kempton Park.

Leg 4 - 3.15 pm Kempton Park.

Leg 5 - 3.35 pm Huntingdon.

Leg 6 - 3.45 pm Kempton Park.

Reveley happy Huntingdon goes ahead.

North Yorkshire based trainer Keith Reveley is very happy today's meeting at Huntingdon goes ahead as planned, for he had ear marked the meeting as a step along the way to Cheltenham for his promising novice chaser Tazbar. A good winner at Musselburgh in his debut over fences, Tazbar was the nearest rival to Nicky Henderson's outstanding Feltham Novices Chase winner Long Run over Christmas, and Reveley believes there is plenty more to come from Tazbar, saying,

"Tazbar is very progressive, but after the current cold spell we need to get a race into him, so I am delighted today's meeting at Huntigdon goes ahead. Providing he comes out of today's race in good shape, we will look for another suitable race next month as we try to get him to Cheltenham in top condition".