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Just three face Diamond Harry on chasing debut.

Long Walk Hurdle third Diamond Harry will face only three rivals when he lines up for his first steeplechase in tomorrow's sportingbet.com Altcar Novices Chase at Haydock Park.

A very impressive winner of a Brush Hurdle race on heavy ground at Haydock earlier in the season, Diamond Harry should have conditions to suit in tomorrow's contest, and with trainer Nick Williams having secured the services of Barry Geraghty to replace regular jockey Timmy Murphy - who is riding at Ascot for retainer David Johnson - connections will expect Diamond Harry to see off his rivals if he is to challenge for major honours in Cheltenham's RSA Chase next month.

However, Diamond Harry could certainly get some stiff competition from two of his rivals, for while Mumbles Head looks slightly out of his depth, George Charlton's Knockara Beau is well regarded, and has been racing in top company. The other main opponent would appear to be Bensalem, particularly as he already won a Kempton novice chase on heavy ground.

Byrnes sees Halo as main danger.

In an interview earlier today, Solwit's trainer Charles Byrnes confirmed that in his own mind, 2009 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle runner up Celestial Halo represents the biggest threat to Solwit in Sunday's Toshiba sponsered Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

"I am led to believe Paul Nicholls has Celestial Halo in tip top condition, and his defeat last time out to Kyber Kim could well have been at the hands of the potential Cheltenham Champion Hurdler in 2010. Solwit is in good heart , and he will go into the race with every chance of adding to his Grade One haul this season, but I certainly think we ignore Celestial Halo at our peril."

Solwit and Celestial Halo may not have to face former Champion Hurdler Sublimity in Sunday's race, as the latters trainer Robbie Hennessy has indicated Sublimity will only run if ground conditions improve prior to Sunday's two mile Grade 1 contest.

Another blow for Mullins yard.

Already having problems getting last season's top novice hurdlers Hurricane Fly and Mikael D'Haguenet into action for this season, Ireland's leading national hunt trainer Willie Mullins has today suffered another reverse in his season's fortunes.

French import Zaidpour, a half brother to 2009 Triumph Hurdle winner Zaynar, and himself as short as 14/1 for this year's Triumph Hurdle in anti post markets, has suffered a major setback in training, and will now miss the remainder of the national hunt season.

On a brighter note, Mullins is hopeful the well regarded Sports line will put in a good showing in Sunday's Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Challenge Chase at Leopardstown:

"He won very handily first time out, but he has been held up by the recent bad weather, and although it is a risk putting him into such a competitive race on his second outing, I am hopeful he will have the ability to compete, and certainly, he will love the predicted heavy groudn."

Ebaziyan heads thirty strong MCR field.

With a first prize of over sixty thousand euros, tomorrow's re-arranged MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown has attracted a field of thirty runners.

Willie Mullins last won the race in 2002 with Adamant Approach, and his five runners tomorrow include the suprise winner of the 2007 Supreme Novices Hurdle - Ebaziyan - who has to carry top weight in the ultra competitive handicap.

The Charles Byrnes dual performer Carthalawn finished third in the corresponding race last season, and his second over hurdles to Go Native at Tipperary prior to three good chasing efforts would suggest he has a great chance of landing this year's first prize.

However, when it comes down to selecting the potential winner from Saturday's large field of runners, based on the most recent anti post betting, it would seem punters prefer Martin Brassil's progressive Movieland, and Gerry Keane's lightly weighted Steviemac.

Is the Ascot course the main concern for Nicholls?

While using various media outlets to notify everyone that Twist Magic is in the prime of health ahead of tomorrow's Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, Paul Nicholls is also saying he has definite concerns over the suitability of the Ascot circuit for his short priced race favourite:

"When racing at Sandown, Twist Magic has a relatively flat surface which enables him to bowl along in a steady rhythm, but it is possible Ascot's undulating circuit may hamper him enough to stop him gettin into a rhythm, and this may explain why he could only finish second to Tamarinbleu in 2008. But he then went on to run badly in the 2008 Queen Mother Champion Chase, so he may just have been 'off colour' for those two races."

While this revelation from the trainer may cause doubt in some minds about Twist Magic's chances in tomorrow's Grade 1 contest, we think a below par run is not Twist Magic's main problem, for it is far more likely it will be the challenge laid down by the progressive Petit Robin from the Nicky Henderson yard who will prove the major obstacle to a Twist Magic brace of Grade 1 victories.

Murphy very happy with Voler recovery.

Despite still missing her intended run in Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle, trainer Colm Murphy reports top rated mare Voler la Vedette is recovering faster than expected from the pulled muscle she suffered in a recent training cantor. Speaking today, Murphy said,

"I am very happy with Voler la Vedette's progress, and I would hope she will soon be fit enough for us to find a suitable pre-Cheltenham race."

Fortune considered for straight swop.

Having been informed earlier in the week he will not be required by John Gosden for the coming flat season, jockey Jimmy Fortune might be about to complete a straight swop with the jockey who will replace him at Gosden's Newmarket yard.

Trainer Andrew Balding, who in recent years has used William Buick as the main partner for Kingsclere trained horses, is obviously on the look out for another jockey, and rumour has it, he is seriously considering employing the experienced Jimmy Fortune in the now vacant position left available after Buick's move to the Gosden yard.

Footnote - It would appear William Buick may get his first crack at Classic Glory for his new stable as early as March, for it is thought he will be given the ride aboard Breeders Cup winner Pounced if Connections take up their option to run the three-year-old in the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup Day - 27 March 2010.

Dickin laying Cheltenham plan for Harry.

In an interview today, trainer Robin Dickin indicated he was very keen on the chances of Restless Harry performing well at this year's Cheltenham Festival, and the Midlands based handler confirmed he was now laying out a plan to get his six-year-old to Prestbury Park in peak fitness, and with experience of the course he will face in a few weeks time at the Festival.

A former point to pointer, Restless Harry has taken well to hurdling, winning easily on his debut at Towcester on 28 November, and then following up with a very good second to Reve de Sivola in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury on 29 December.

Dickin believes the extended two and a half miles of the Grade 2 Neptune Investment Managers Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival Trials Day on 30 January will provide his charge with the ideal trip and track experience in advance of the main Cheltenham Festival.

Commenting further, Dickin also indicated why he thought Restless Harry would win the Trial:

"He just lost out on stamina over the two mile five furlong trip of the Challow Hurdle on heavy ground, but the extended two and a half mileltrip on probable better ground at Cheltenham should suit him perfectly, and if he runs up to his best, I expect him to return to winning ways."

Chepstow reminder.

For any who missed yesterday's news announcement about today's scheduled card at Chepstow - we would remind today's readers, the meeting has been abandoned due to a waterlogged course.

Lynch denied more time to pay.

After originally agreeing to pay a £50,000 fine by 24 December 2009 as part of his plea bargain regarding race fixing charges, jockey Fergal Lynch made an attempt to get the date of payment delayed until his license application hearing in June of this year. Lynch made the request because he had unexpectedly lost his license to ride at Philadelphia racecourse in America, and claimed he did not have the livelyhood to pay the fine on time.

At a specially convened hearing of the BHA Disciplinary Panel on Tuesday, the application by Lynch's solicitors was considered, but the Panel have decided Lynch's application has no merit, and it has been rejected.

The Panel provided a detailed reasoning for their decision, but the outcome will mean, unless Lynch comes up with the fine in rapid order, his chances of regaining a jockey's license in Britain are minimal.

Murphy eventually makes it to One Thousand.

After some confusion in the latter part of 2009 as to how many winners 35 year old Timmy Murphy had actually ridden in Britain, it was agreed his winner at Cheltenham on New Years Day was his nine hundred and ninety eighth, but due to the recent wintry weather, he had to wait until his rides at Taunton on Thursday to reach the magic One Thousand mark.

A win aboard the well regardede Ghizao for Paul Nicholls early in the meeting put Murphy on 999 winners, but he had to wait another two hours before the well supported Ron Hodges trained Wizard of Edge provided Murphy with the magic moment of his One Thousandth winner in the Shoreditch Handicap Chase.

Soumillon joins de Kock team.

Contravercial french jockey Christophe Soumillon, who was recently denied an extension to his riding license in Hong Kong, has signed up to ride for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum at the upcoming Carnival of Racing at the new Meydan racecourse in Dubai.

The agreement means Soumillon will share riding duties with stable jockey Kevin Shea for the Mike de Kock yard, and the trainer admits he is very happy to have such an experienced jockey at his disposal during the Dubai racing season.

2010 Ground Staff Awards Announced.

In 2010, the Award for the best Flat racecourse was awarded to York Racecourse. The Dual Purpose award went to Newcastle Racecourse and Plumpton Racecourse received the award for best Jump track.

Members of the Judging Panel also had the opportunity to praise the considerable efforts of the AWT Courses in continuing to stage racing during the recent bad weather.

Judging of the awards took place on Tuesday 19 January 2010 and the panel comprised representatives of the National Trainers Federation and Professional Jockeys’ Association, with support from the BHA Course Inspectors. The Awards, organised by the Racecourse Association, are in their fourteenth year and recognise the achievements of racecourse groundstaff.

John Richards, Operations Director of Pitchcare commented,

“We are delighted to sponsor these prestigious awards. Groundstaff at racecourses are highly regarded in the sports turf industry, their work is critical to the safety of the horses and jockeys and, as such, the ongoing success of the sport.”

Richard Linley, Senior BHA Inspector of Courses, said:

“It is encouraging that each year it gets more difficult to select winners. 2009 saw some really pro-active displays of groundsmanship in what was a particularly difficult year for many racecourses due to the high rainfall. It is a shame that we can only recognise three courses in these awards as there are many other deserving teams.”