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HRI announce replacement fixtures.

With several horseracing fixtures having been lost to the bad weather in recent weeks, Horse Racing Ireland have this afternoon announced two additional fixtures as follows:

Thursday 03 December - Naas.

Monday 07 December - Wexford.

Paddy Power first three could re-oppose in Boylesports.

After today's latest decleration stage for the boylesports.com Gold Cup on 12 December, we are one step nearer to seeing the first three home in the Paddy Power Gold Cup re-oppose each other back at Cheltenham next month.

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Tranquil Sea could attempt to become the first horse since Exotic Dancer in 2006 to complete the end of year two and a half mile Grade 3 Cheltenham double in the same season. Tranquil Sea is one of four entries for Irish trainer Edward O'Grady, and he is joined by seven other entries from Irish based stables.

Paddy Power second and third Poquelin and Holdem look set to represent Paul Nicholls and Keith Goldsworthy, while other Paddy Power runners including; Our Vic, Chapoturgeon, and Nowhere are amongst the current entries for the boylesports.com Gold Cup.

Another interesting current entrant is the Venetia Williams trained Cheltenham Festival Freddie Williams winner Somethin Wells, and if only half of the current entrants actually compete on 12 December, it promises to be an excellent renewal of the competitive handicap.

O'Connell to have first professional ride on Dunguib.

Having ridden former Champion Bumper Dunguib in all of his previous victories while an amateur jockey, Brian O'Connell believes he has picked the ideal moment to join the professional ranks, for his first major ride will be aboard Dunguib in Sunday's Grade One Bar-One Royal Bond Novices Hurdle at Fairyhouse, and O'Connell has supreme confidence Dunguib can keep his unbeaten record over hurdles, while at the same time, he can provide O'Connell with a first professional win at Grade One level.

Speaking earlier today, the new professional jockey said,

"Naturally, I am nervous, apprehensive and excited all at the same time, but if he repeats the form he has shown so far this season, it will take a good one to beat him."

Naas off - Chepstow on - Uttoxeter to inspect.

Following an early morning inspection, today's card at Naas has been abandoned due to waterlogging, but on a brighter note, this afternoon's card at Chepstow goes ahead, but the going is described by Clerk of the Course Tim Long as 'really heavy', and it is likely one or two fences may be omitted during this afternoon's scheduled steeplechases.

With sporadic rain still reported to be falling on heavy ground at Uttoxeter, racecourse officials have announced they will undertake a precautionary inspection on Thursday morning to ascertain as to whether Thursday afternoon's card can go ahead as planned.

Thurles joins the inspection club.

After another night of heavy rain over an already saturated Ireland, Thurles racecourse have confirmed they will now hold an early morning precautionary inspection ahead of tomorrow's first day of a proposed two day meeting.

The current going at Thurles is described as 'heavy', and any more substantial rain will certainly put the two day fixture in jeopardy.

Is Nicholls playing mind games?

After yesterday saying Denman was in sparkling form at home, today Paul Nicholls is indicating the top weight burden he has to carry in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup will almost certainly anchor the former race winner, and Nicholls will now be satisfied if Denman finishes fourth or fifth in the Grade 3 contest.

While admitting on the basis of the current weights and the soft state of the ground at Newbury, Denman does appear to have an up-hill task based on his performances last season. But yesterday, Nicholls indicated Denman appeared to be back to his best in his work at home, and forecast drying conditions for the latter part of the week could alleviate some of the concern over his weight burden.

There is no doubt the prenouncement by Paul Nicholls this morning will almost certainly cause Denman to drift in the anti post market for Saturday's race, and in that eventuality, it would be very interesting to know if Denman's joint owner and renowned gambler Harry Findlay decides to take up part of the potential larger price action.

Later in the day,jockey Ruby Walsh darkened the waters surrounding Denman even more by saying,

"I am really looking forward to riding him again. He does have a whole lot of weight to carry, but I am not sure their are many in the field who can beat him if he is on a going day."

Carruthers to miss Hennessy as War confirmed.

While trainer Mouse Morris has today confirmed the entry of former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition for Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury, trainer Mark Bradstock's wife Sarah has regretfully confirmed the well fancied Carruthers will miss the race after being found to have a minor lung infection following a routine scope on Tuesday. Sarah Bradstock, the daughter of part owner Lord Oaksey, was upset by the discovery, saying,

" With my father having ridden Taxidermist to victory in the race fifty one years ago, we were all looking forward to possibly obtaining a second win with Carruthers, but his routine scope showed up as 'mucky', and we were left with no alternative but to withdraw him from the Hennessy. It goes without saying, we are all very disappointed."

The well handicapped War of Attrition will certainly benefit from Carruthers's absence from the race, and if he can show more improvement from his recent third to The Listener in Down Royal's jnwine.com Chase, he could have a good each way chance. Trainer Mouse Morris must certainly consider this a distinct possibility, for he has today booked Grand National winning jockey Neall 'Slippers' Madden to partner his battle hardened campaigner.

Binocular boost from owner J P Mcmanus.

Renowned Irish owner and gambler J P Mcmanus has indicated he is very confident Binocular will turn in a winning performance in this Saturday's wbx.com sponsered Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. This is an unusual show of trust from a man who usually likes to keep his cards close to his chest, so the vote of confidence could prove to be very significant.

Pettifour faces another small field.

Former smart staying hurdler Pettifour had only two rivals when opening his account as a novice chaser at Cheltenham's Open Meeting, and as luck would have it, Nigel Twiston Davies's charge will only have three rivals in tomorrow's second outing over the larger obstacles at Newbury, but as the trainer said today,

"He cannot pick his opposition, and he can only defeat what is put in front of him. So as long as he continues to do that, we will all be very happy."

Tazbar likely to take his chance at Cheltenham.

Keith Reveley was delighted with Tazbar's facile win in his first three mile chase at Musselburgh on Sunday, and connections are now considering giving him a crack at the three mile novice event at Cheltenham on 12 December.

The Listener is to miss the rest of the season.

This season's jnwine.com Chase winner The Listener will be forced to sit out the rest of the 2009 2010 campaign. Trainer Nick Mitchell has confirmed the gelding has a tendon injury, and after consultation with connections, the decision has been taken to rest the multiple Grade 1 winner until the start of the 2010 2011 season.