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Cheltenham announce tickets still available for first 3 days.

The current economic situation is obviously still making potential race-goers very careful in how they spend money, for Cheltenham have today confirmed there are likely to be tickets for sale on the turnstiles for all enclosures on the first three days of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

Doubts emerging over Possol participation in Racing Post Chase.

With some heavy rain forecast for the South of Britain later in the week, trainer Henry Daly has expressed doubts over possol's participation in Saturday's Racing Post Chase if the steeplechase track at Kempton Park becomes too soft. Commenting, Daly said:

"We have been keeping Possol to hurdle races in his build up to the Grand National, and as much as I would like to get a decent chase under his belt before Aintree, I am not going to expose him to a stamina sapping slog with only five weeks to go to the big race. Quite simply, if the ground at Kempton is too soft, Possol will not run on Saturday."

Kilcrea Castle National attempt dependant on Saturday.

Ema Lavelle will wait and see how former Irish chaser Kilcrea Castle performs in Saturday's Racubg Oist Chase before she decides if he will go forward to this season's John Smiths sponsered Grand National at Aintree.

Talking to ATR, Lavelle said,

"Kilcrea Castle is stil relatively young for the National at eight-years-old, and although he has a very good weight, I want to see on Saturday that he can cope with the hurly burly of a big handicap before I make a final decison on Aintree."

Elliott hoping for good ground at Kempton.

Having finished second to Neptune Hurdle anti post favourite Right of Passage in January, Gordon Elliott's french import Grey Soldier duly won his most recent outing, but having raced on soft and heavy going so far, the trainer is keen to give his charge a run on good ground, hence his entry in Saturday's williamhill.com Dovecote Novices Hurdle at Kempton Park.

Discussing his hopes for the promising young hurdler, Elliot commented,

"I think Grey Soldier will be a better horse on a sound surface, and I just hope the going at Kempton remains good for Saturday. He is entered in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, but I think we will skip that and go for two of the top novice hurdles at Fairyhouse and Punchestown, for at least in April we should get some consistant good ground."

Daly fancies Folly for Eider.

When trainer Henry Daly gets bullish about one of his horses it is usually worth noting, and the Shropshire based handler has let it be known he thinks his Sherwood's Folly has the right credentials to be victorious in Saturday's Eider Chase marathon at Newcastle.

"He won well at Cheltenham on New Years Day, and he maintaine dhis form when third last time out. He is fairly handicapped for the Eider, and he is in great shape at present. Four miles holds no fears for him what so ever, nor particularly would heavy ground, and I think the 0 to 150 race conditions suit him pretty well. I am very happy with him, and as long as they don't get the snow up there, I would very much like to run him in the Eider."

Backstage could take in Newcastle hurdle.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has suggested his big Aintree Grand National hope Backstage could follow up on a recent third in a Musselburgh hurdle with a run in a novice hurdle at this Saturday's Eider Chase meeting at Newcastle.

However, with snow and frost forecast for the North East of England over the next four days, Elliott has indicated any run wil be entirely dependant on travel and racing being unaffected by the winter weather.

Mullins rates Tavern Times despite lack of racecourse experience.

A clear winner of his initial Bumper Race back in October, Tavern Times was due to have his preparation race for the Cheltenham Champion Bumper in a National Hunt Flat Race at Naas, but the cancellation of the meeting means trainer Tom Mullins has decided to send his charge directly to Cheltenham.

Speaking about hisdecision, Mullins said,

"Naturally, we would have preferred to have given him the racecourse experience at Naas, but he has done some nice gallops at the Curragh, and despite his lack of actual racing experience, nothing we have seen so far this season suggests he is out of the reckoning when he lines up at Cheltenham."

Notra Pere to miss Cheltenham Gold Cup.

After watching Notra Pere fall at the last fence when already beaten in last weekend's Bobbyjo Chase, trainer Jim Dreaper has decided his nine-year-old will now have a long gap between his races, and that means he will now miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Explaining his reasoning, Dreaper said,

"It has taken me a while to realise Notra Pere needs to go into his races relatively fresh, and that means a run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is now out of the question. Instead, we will freshen him up for a run in the Powers Whisky Irish National at Fairyhouse on 05 April, or the Aintree Grand National five days later."

Southwell given early green light.

A milder than expected night meant Southwell Clerk of the Course Roderick Duncan was able to dispense with his intended 8.00 am inspection, and today's national hunt card goes ahead as scheduled.

Snow could prevent Wednesday Doncaster card.

Although the slight snow covering still on the Doncaster course from Sunday's snow fall is due to melt during the day, the weather forecasters are suggesting heavy snow could fall Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. So as a precautionary measure ahead of Wednesday afternoon's scheduled card, Doncaster Clerk of the Course David Williams has decided to hold an inspection of the national hunt courses at 8.00 am on Wednesday morning.

Kempton now set to stage an 8 race card.

Following the loss of the Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday, the British Horseracing Authority has authorised an additional two mile conditions hurdle to take place this Saturday at Kempton Park Racecourse. The The BHA have expressed their gratitude to the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Kempton Park Racecourse, Jockey Club Racecourses and the Racing Post for their assistance in programming this race.

Henderson delighted with Punjabi option.

Nicky Henderson was delighted with the above decision to stage the Racing Post i-phone app hblb Champion Hurdle Trial at Kempton Park this coming Saturday.

The Sevenbarrows handler has responded to the news of the new race by making three entries in the 10 runner field. As expected, Punjabi will line up in the new race as Henderson is desperate to give his 2009 Champion Hurdler another run prior to his defence of the Champion Hurdle crown at this year's Cheltenham Festival. Henderson has also entered Punjabi's stable mates Afsoun and French Opera, although Afsoun also has an entry in Sunday's National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell Park.

Andy Turnell will be hoping Blue Bajan will turn around his current poor hurdling form. Border Castle could use the race for his return from a long injury absence, and Gary Moore could be represented by Mon Michel.

The field is currently made up by Earth Magic, Spider Boy, Supernoverre, and Treaty Flyer.

Starluck to prepare on the all weather.

Originally due to face Punjabi in last Saturday's cancelled Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, the Alan Fleming trained Christmas Hurdle runner up Starluck is to avoid a clash with Punjabi on potentially heavy ground in the new Conditions Two Mile Hurdle at Kempton Park on Saturday.

Trainer Fleming is fearful a battle on heavy ground prior to the Champion Hurdle will not suit Starluck, and the handler has therefore decided to give his charge a pre-festival run in an all weather flat race, with the likely target being the Digibet Casino Handicap for horses rated 81 to 95, which will be run on the Kempton all weather track on Wednesday 03 March 2010.

Discussing the move, Fleming said,

"In my opinion it is getting too close to Cheltenham to give Starluck a hard race, and the flat option at Kempton should give him the run he needs without taking too much out of him ahead of the Champion Hurdle."

Free entry offer to attract new race-goers.

Free admission to 8 British race meetings is to be offered in an attempt to attract new race-goers with a free sample of the delights of horse racing. Part of an initiative organised by Racing For Change, high profile venues like Ascot, Doncaster, Goodwood, and Kempton, are taking part in the project.

The list below indicates the various FREE FIXTURES available to new race-goers between Monday 26 April and Saturday 01 May 2010.

Monday April 26 - Towcester and Wolverhampton.

Tuesday 27 April - Sedgefield (evening).

Wednesday 28 April - Ascot, Kempton (evening).

Thursday 29 April - Huntingdon (evening).

Friday 30 April - Doncaster.

Saturday 01 May - Goodwood.

Botti confirms Lingfield warm up for Gitano.

A suprise winner of a Grade 1 race at Santa Anita in California last October, Gitano Hernando is now being prepared by trainer Marco Botti for a crack at the Dubai World Cup on 27 march at Meydan Racecourse.

Botti has now confirmd as part of Gitano Hernando's warm up for his run in the Gulf, his four-year-old will take in this coming Saturday's Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield Park.

However, issuing a slight note of caution to potential punters, Botti said,

"Gitano Hernando is on a warm up programme for the Dubai World Cup, and he will ned the race on Saturday. Hopefully he will still be good enough to take the race, but at this stage of his training he could still be vulnerable to a really fit quality horse."

Hardy Eustace to have one-off charity return

Earlier today, the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund (PKRF) were delighted to announce dual Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace will come out of retirement for the Annual Punchestown Charity Race sponsored by Diageo Ireland.
The twenty first running of the race will take place on the final day of the Punchestown Festival, Saturday 24 April 2010.

Hardy Eustace will bid to repeat the victory of dual Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer who landed the race in 2007. Commenting on the 13 year old’s current routine, trainer Dessie Hughes said,

“we are keeping him ticking over and he’s enjoying his work as usual”

The Punchestown charity race was started by James Nolan, a butcher from Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, who himself suffered from kidney failure and underwent dialysis treatment during his teenage years. James was fortunate enough to receive a kidney from his sister Catherine at the age of eighteen. He founded the charity to help improve the lives of fellow renal patients and to promote organ donor awareness.