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Denman a possibility for Cheltenham on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls has made it quite clear he wants Denman to have one more outing before he tries to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup from Kauto Star in March, and while Denman has entries in the Irish Hennessy on Sunday week and Newbury's AON Chase, it is also interesting to note, at today's five day decleration stage, the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner still has an entry in this Saturday's Argento Chase at Prestbury Park.

If Denman does line up on Saturday, main opposition may come from; stable mates Inchidaly Rock and Taranis, (the latter returning after a long absence), Lexus runner up Money Trix, Nicky Henderson's Barbers Shop, David Pipe's ever consistent Madison de Berlais, and Mark Bradburn's Carruthers, who was a ggood winner on his last outing.

Connections will also be hoping Joe Lively can return to form on his favoured Cheltenham track, but while Nigel Twiston Davies has a trio of entries with Ollie Mcgurn, Nowhere, and Beat The Boys, none of the last three look capable of upsetting the principals on current form.

O'Brien rules out Newmarket show from Lillie Langtry.

In an interview with ATR today, Aidan O'Brien confirmed three-year-old filly Lillie Langtry is back in light training following the injury she suffered in the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita, but the Master of Ballydoyle indicated she would be a very unlikely runner in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas on 02 May. In fact, O'Brien suggested the filly would most probably not be seen on a race track until mid summer, with a late season campaign being her probable course of action.

Going on to discuss 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby anti post favourite St Nicholas Abbey, O'Brien commented:

"He looks great, and he is moving well in training. We will give him a race before the Guineas, but at the moment I am not sure where we will go."

Precautionary inspections for Leicester and Sedgefield.

With the weather forecasters suggesting overnight temperatures in Britain could fall below zero, the relevant officials at both Leicester and Sedgefield have decided to call precautionary 7.30 am inspections on Tuesday morning ahead of the scheduled afternoon meetings.

Dates and venues announced for replacement fixtures.

Due to the large number of national hunt race meetings which were cancelled in Britain due to the cold conditions in the first two weeks of January 2010, the BHA have granted permission for replacement fixtures to take place. The first of these new meetings took place today at Newcastle, and more replacement fixtures have now been announced for the next three weeks, as follows:

Friday 29 January 2010 - Chepstow.

Sunday 31 January 2010 - Plumpton.

Friday 05 February 2010 - Bangor-on-dee.

Friday 12 February 2010 - Ayr.

Captain changes trainer and trip.

Irish owned Captain Ramius was very impressive in his juvenile year, winning on his three starts, but while with now stateside trainer Simon Callaghan as a three-year-old, he failed to trouble the judge on his two outings.

However, connections have now sent the four-year-old to Kevin Ryan, and it is understood Ryan intends to drop his new charge back to sprinting distances, with the Camidge Trophy on 27 March at Doncaster as the intended first target.

Tendon injury rules Hennessy out for season.

Last season's Sandown Gold Cup winner Hennessy was due to make his seasonal debut in Saturday's Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, but trainer Warren Greatrex has today notified the press his charge suffered a tendon injury during preparation for this weekend's race, and the injury is such that Hennessy will now be sidelined for the rest of the current season.

Punchestown run to decide Big Zeb Cheltenham tilt.

Although describing Big Zeb as being in 'great shape' ahead of his intended run in Sunday's Tied Cottage Chase on Cheltenham Trials Day at Punchestown, trainer Colm Murphy also admits, after his disappointing run in the Tingle Creek Chase, Big Zeb will have to step up at the wekend if he is to book his ticket for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Speaking earlier today, Murphy said,

"After his poor show at Sandown, we gave him an easy time over Christmas, but he has done plenty of work since, and he looks great at the moment. I am sure he will put in a good show on Sunday, but he will have to if he is to go on to the Champion Chase at Cheltenham."

De Bromhead supressing a smile?

Knowing the relative qualities of his two stable mates Sizing Europe and An Cathaoir Mor, trainer Henry de Bromhead seems to be suppressing a smile after An Cathaoir Mor landed the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Although the trainer suggests yesterday's winner will probably not go to the Cheltenham Festival as he loves heavy ground - something he is unlikely to obtain at Prestbury Park in March - by comparison, Sizing Europe is definitely at home on good ground, and according to the trainer,

"He has enjoyed his break since his win at Leopardstown over Christmas. To be honest, he looks magnificent at the moment, and with An Cathaoir Mor winning on Sunday, I can't wait to get Sizing Europe to Cheltenham for this year's Arkle Challenge Trophy."

Murphy to send Zaarito back to school.

Taking into consideration the fact Zaarito had An Cathaoir Mor behind him at Naas earlier in the season, his third fence departure in the Arkle Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday was a major disappointment to trainer Colm Murphy, while it left jockey Denis O'Regan sidelined for a month with a broken collar bone.

Having now watched Zaarito fall in two of his four chases, Murphy has decided to send his novice chaser back to the schooling paddock in an attempt to correct his current erratic jumping.

Zaarito currently has an engagement in the Grade 1 Dr P J Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown on 07 February, but Murphy is not sure if he will go down that route, saying:

"We will see how he goes in training prior to the Moriarty. It may well be we will look for a previous winners race instead, but either way, we have to get him to concentrate on his jumping.

"I still think he has the ability to be a top class steeplechaser, and I would like to get him back into the right mind set prior to Cheltenham."

No Problems as Newcastle goes ahead.

In advance of today's additional national hunt meeting, Newcastle Clerk of the Course James Armstrong had on Sunday called a 7.30 am inspection for this morning as the weather forecasters had predicted overnight frost.

Not for the first time, the forecast was incorrect, and with a frost free night in the North East of England, Armstrong cancelled his inspection, and this afternoon's meeting goes ahead as planned on ground described as heavy - soft in places.

Irish Champion Hurdle post race thoughts.

While Henry de Bromhead confirmed it is now 'all systems go' for solwit's attempt to win the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, the trainers of the placed horses in yesterday's Irish Champion Hurdle all found some form of solice.

Discussing runner up Donnas Palm, Noel Meade said,

"Donnas Palmhas improved all season, and I know he will be even better on good ground. He is entered at Cheltenham, but we may decide to go to Aintree, as I suspect the Mildmay Course will be more to his liking." Meade added,

"Knowing the qualities of both of my horses, watching Donnas Palm finish within four and a half lengths of Solwit gives me great confidence in Go Native's ability to come out on top at Cheltenham."

Robbie Hennessy was delighted with Sublimity's third position in Sunday's Grade 1, saying

"The key to Sublimity is the ground. Two furlongs from home on Sunday's heavy ground he had Solwit off the bridle for a stride or two, but he could not see out the trip in those conditions. If he gets good ground at Cheltenham, I give him a real chance in the Champion Hurdle."

Paul Nicholls also blamed the ground for Celestial Halo's disappointing run in fourth,

"Ruby Walsh reported after the race he was never happy in the ground, and in future I think we will limit him to races were he gets favourable underfoot conditions."