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Western Leader now heading to Aintree.

After watching his progressive novice Western Leader score by 12 lengths in the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon, trainer John Hanlon indicated his cahrge would now target either the two and a half mile or three mile novice hurdle races at the Aintree Festival in April.

Latest decleration stage for Cheltenham Handicaps.

To itemise the various entries at the latest scratching stage for the 7 Cheltenham Handicaps would take up pages - so to make things easy, if you click here - it will take you to a betting guide on all the runners, kindly supplied by Coral bookmakers, which is found on our Anti Post Markete Moves Page.

Sandown cancelled after afternoon inspection.

With persistant rain still falling on already waterlogged ground at Sandown Park, Sandown Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper took just a few minutes at this afternoon's 3.30 pm precautionary inspection to confirm the cancellation of Friday afternoon's national hunt meeting.

Discussing his decision, Cooper said,

"The course is saturated and waterlogged in places, and to delay the decision until tomorrow morning would have been pointless, particularly as we are forecast more rain tonight."

Madison heads fourteen acceptors for Racing Post Chase.

At today's 48 hour decleration stage, 14 horses remain entered in Saturday's Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park.

The most notable absentee will be last year's runner up Possol, as trainer Henry Daly has confirmed the predicted 'heavy ground' will be totally unsuitable to his Aintree Grand National hope.

Top weight Madison du Berlais will be joined from the David Pipe yard by stable mate and recent Warwick winner Piraya.

Tom George will saddle last year's winner Nacarat, and Paul Nicholls has bottom weight Fistral Beach.

Venetia Williams will be represented by Something Wells and A touch Between Acara, and Nigel Twiston Davies is also doubly represented by Ollie McGurn and Razor Royale.

The well supported Miss mitch and Kilcrea Castle head the rest, with Bible Lord, Oedipe, Private Bee and Le Burf completing the fourteen strong line up.

Eider the definite target for Iris.

Trainer Sean Curran has confirmed he is really looking forward to getting Iris de Balme back over fences in this weekend's Totesport Eider Chase at Newcastle. The 10-year-old won the Scottish National in April 2008 but he suffered a tendon injury following his fourth place in the bet365 Gold Cup later that month, before making his return over hurdles at Wetherby three weeks ago.

"It was very pleasing at Wetherby. I was surprised he was still in the race at the second last. He put in a good comeback. He's come on a lot for it and I schooled him myself on Wednesday. He jumped grand over fences." Curran then added,

"He'll ship a lot fitter on Saturday. It's all systems go as long as it's on. This is more his trip and he won't mind the heavy ground either.
I don't know who's going to ride him yet. It depends on what runs. Tom Siddall gave him a lovely ride at Wetherby. He's in the mix but I'll speak to the owners.

"My claimer (Anthony Freeman) might ride him. He's been off fora bit but is back today, he'll be riding on Friday and he'll be on my other one (Classic Dream) at Newcastle on Saturday in an earlier race.

"If Newcastle doesn't go ahead there's the Grimthorpe at Doncaster on Saturday week. We'd go there if Newcastle's off."

Also in the Eider field, Tim Watford is confident of a bold show from Gypsy George and believes he ticks all the right boxes for the marathon contest. The handler said:

"He's as good as we have ever had him, and we are hopeful of a great showing on Saturday."

Pete to return to hurdling.

Having pulled According To Pete out of last Saturday's Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park due to a slight setback, Malcolm Jefferson has given some thought to his charge's relatively poor results over fences in the last twelve months, and he has decided to send According To Pete back to hurdling for at least hisnext run. Elaborating on his thoughts, Jefferson said,

"According To Pete has been jumping big and carefully in his most recent races, and that is making him less competitive in top class company. He showd when winning the Brush Hurdle race at Haydock in 2008 he has lots of ability as a hurdler, and to rebuild his confidence I have decided to put him back over hurdles for the time being. Thereis a 0 to 140 hurdle at Doncaster on Grimthorpe Chase Day, and he will probably have a run in that race, and that should give us a clue as to what to do next."

Smullen hoping for profitable Bumper return.

Foremer Irish Champion Flat Jockey Pat Smullen did well for his boss Dermot Weld in last season's Weatherbys Champion Bumper when he rode this year's Neptune Hurdle favourite Right of Passage into third place behind this season's top novice hurdler Dunquib.

Smullen is now hoping to get a return trip to Cheltenham for this year's Champion Bumper on either Hidden Universe or Endless Intrigue, both of whom still have entries for the Weld yard in this season's renewal of the National Hunt Flat Race, and reading between the lines, Smullen seems to have a marginal preference for Hidden Universe, a horse he has known since he came to the Weld yard as a yearling.

Vino Griego Cheltenham run depends on Dovecote performance.

Placed in a Grade 2 race earlier in the season, Vino Griego was a good winner for trainer Gary Moore on his last outing at Wincanton, but as Moore says:

"The race at Wincanton may not have been very good, and the only way I can determine if Vino Griego is up to the necessary standard to be competitive at Cheltenham is to give him a run in Saturday's Dovecote Novices Hurdle. Although he would prefer good ground, he can handle it with cut, and if he can figure on Saturday, I would be happy to let him take his chance at Cheltenham."

Naas to get re-arranged fixture.

Having lost a couple of meetings so far this year due to bad weather, Horse Racing Ireland have authorised Naas Racecourse to stage a re-arranged fixture on Wednesday 10 March 2010.

Full details on the meeting and advance tickets are available from the Naas sales office.

Warwick to take precautionary look.

Concerned that the weather forecasters may actually get it right and the South Midlands has haeavy rainfall over the next twenty four hours, Warwick Clerk of the Course Andrew Morris has decided to hold a precautionary inspection of his track at 7.30 am tomorrow morning ahead of the scheduled Friday afternoon national hunt meeting.

Explaining his reasoning, Morris said,

"The forecast suggests we will get between 5 and 8 millimetres of rain, If it's 5, that will not be a problem, and even if it's 8, we should cope, but if the rainfall is heavier than anticipated we could have problems, hence the reason for the precautionary inspection at 7.30 am on Friday morning."

Matt O'Connor returns to winning ways.

Jocky Matt O'Connor, who suffered life threatening head injuries in a fall at Thurles last March, yesterday scored his first winner since the incident when riding 4/5 favourite Kimberlite King to victory for trainer Colmn Murphy in the 20% On Line Discount Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse.

Speaking after his success, O'Connor commented,

"I have to admit I am 110% relieved to have eventually had a winner. I must have had ten seconds since my return to race riding, and I came here wondering which horse would beat us today. I have to admit it has been tough getting used to race riding again since my return in October, and it was only after Christmas I began to feel things were coming right. Having got this first win under my belt, I am hopeful my next winner will come along fairly quickly."