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Genes Reunited

Kemps takes Thurles prize for Mullins and Walsh.

The Willie Mullins - Ruby Walsh combination struck again this afternoonwhen Kemps collected his second successsive win over fences in the Grade 2 Nas Na Riogh Novices Chase at Thurles.

Hot favourite Jagoes Mill led the field into the straight, but Walsh was just biding his time, and brought Kemps with a strong run to take the lead before the last, and after a fluent jump at the final fence, Kemps showed his hurdles speed on the run in, eventually scoring by four lengths.

Irish Arkle winner An Cathaoir Mor found the two and a half mile trip exceeded his stamina, and he folded tamely in the home straight.

Newcastle Saturday fixture lost to waterlogging.

With incessant rain still falling on a saturated and waterlogged course, Newcastle Clerk of the Course James Armstrong walked the course with a steward and a jockeys safety representative at his 2.00 pm inspection, and immediately after taking a look, he had no hesitation in calling off tomorrow's scheduled Eider Chase Day at the north east racing venue.

Describing conditions, Armstrong siad,

"It has not stopped raining all day, and the forecast is for another half inch at least. The course is saturated with standing water everywhere, and false ground patches in all areas of both courses. I have to say, it has been one of my easiest ever calls to abandon tomorrow's card, but it is obviously very disappointing to lose our Eider Chase race day."

Scoop Six races changed.

Following Newcastle's abandonment, tomorrow's Scoop Six bet will include races from Kempton Park and Chepstow. Full details will be published in our Saturday morning news section.

However, punters seeking a guide should note the Racing Post's Pricewise tipster Tom Segal is the guest on tomorrow morning's Channel 4 Morning Line show - so his tips for Saturday may be well worth following.

Madison to take blinkered approach.

David Pipe has today confirmed Racing Post Chase top weight Madison du Berlais will wear blinkers for the first time in tomorrow's competitive handicap at Kempton Park.

The King George VI Chase runner up produced a below par performance on his last outing in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham, and while accepting his charge does not like the Prestbury Park course, David Pipe also revealed connections have thought for some time he may need the help of head gear to revitalise his interest in racing, hence the decision to fit them for the first time in Saturday's Racing Post Chase.

Pre Cheltenham gallop for Tell Massini.

Apart from his standard training at home, Tom George has indicated Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle favourite Tell Massini is almost certain to have a racecourse gallop prior to his intended engagement at the Cheltenham Festival.

A winner of his three outings this season, including two victories at Cheltenham, Tell Massini has two entries at the Festival, but listening to George today, it is pretty obvious which race is preferred:

"Tell Massini will have one more racecourse gallop before the Festival, and if we can keep him just as he is now, we'll be very happy. It is more than likely he will go for the 3 mile hurdle, but either way, I can say he is working extremely well and is improving all the time. His current weight is exactly as it was when he last won at Cheltenham, and that means to us he is just right."

Newlands Chase could be a good indicator.

Sunday's Newlands Chase at Leopardstown looks to have some very interesting entrants, and the form of the race may well be worth noting for the latter part of the national hunt season.

Galway Plate winner Ballyholland did well to win his warm up hurdle after seven months off the track, and a first three finish on Sunday would put him right on track for his intended run in the Aintree Grand National.

The Jimmy Lambe trained Natal has been given a deliberate rest since his sixth place in the jnwine.com champion Chase at Down Royal in November, and once again, a first three finish would indicate he is one to be considered in the Spring and early Summer important chases.

Thornton to take Somersby ride.

With Tony McCoy almost certain to ride Eddie Harty's Captain Cee Beefor owner J P Macmanus in this season's Irish Independant Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, trainer Henrietta Knight has had to look for an alternative rider for her novice chasing stable star Somersby, and the attractive opportunity has gone to Robert 'Choc' Thornton.

Discussing the arrangement, Henrietta Knight commented,

"Tony would be our first choice for Somersby after their joint success at Sandown in December, but as long as his horse runs, Choc will ride Somersby in the Arkle. He has already been to the yard to have a sit on him, and providing this wet weather stops, he will probably come and school him one day prior to cheltenham."

Lingfield outing for Twice Over.

As part of his preparation for the Dubai World Cup, Twice Over is to have a racecourse gallop at Lingfield Park on Saturday.

Having finished last season with outstanding performances which saw him win the Newmarket Champion Stakes before going on to finish third behind Zenyatta in the Breeders Cup Classic, trainer Henry Cecil seems to be of the opinion there could be even more to come from his five-year-old this season:

"Twice Over has wintered very well, and I feel he is a stronger and better horse this year, and we are looking forward to seeing what he can achieve in next months Dubai World Cup."

Total Gallery not on display in Dubai.

Back in January, trainer Stan Moore indicated Total Gallery's participation in the major sprints in Dubai this Spring was about 50 - 50, but after consultation with connections it has been decided to by-pass the Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup Day (27 March), and instead, the 2009 Prix de L'Abbaye winner will be aimed at a Group One sprint in Singapore in May, followed by the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Warwick card avoids wash-out.

Despite having to cope with 6 mm of rain last night, this afternoon's national hunt card at Warwick survived its 7.30 am inspection and goes ahead, albeit on ground described as'heavy soft in places'.

Clerkof the Course Andrew Morris commented,

"It was touch and go for a while, but it has stopped raining now, and hopefully conditions will improve prior to the start of racing. I am happy to go ahead on the current ground. We may have to doll off a couple of jumps due to the state of the ground surrounding the fences, but we will make a judgement on that just prior to racing."

Sandown off due to waterlogging.

For anyone who missed Thursday's news section, we would reiterate today's meeting at Sandown Park has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track.

Fallon booked for Old McDonald.

Leading flat jockey Kieran Fallon is to have only his second ride in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper after having been snapped up by Noel Glynn to ride Old McDonald at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The only other time Fallon competed in the race was in 2005, when he rode the Jonjo O'Neill trained Refinement into fourth position behind Missed That.

Explaining how the booking came about, Noel Glynn said,

"We are both from the same parish in County Clare, and Kieran was a neighbour of mine, so I decided to get him booked, and I couldn't have got much better. He will be riding a good horse who won nicely at Ludlow last time. The time before that he was second to Tavern Times at Fairyhouse, and he was maybe a bit unlucky in the race. Tavern Times is one of the favourites for the Champion Bumper and I'd like to feel our horse will be where-ever he is, whether it will be in front of him or just behind him I don't know, but hopefully it will be in front."

Ellison has ground worries for Ultimate.

Despite losing a shoe in the process, the Brian Ellison trained Ultimate chased home the highly regarded Carlito Brigante when the pair metin the recent Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial at Musselburgh, and Ellison believes his young charge will eventually develop into a top class hurdler.

However, the handler has reservations about running Ultimate in Saturday's williamhill.com Adonis Novice Hurdle at Kempton Park, for after the recent rain, he thinks the ground will have far too much cut to suit the action of his four-year-old.

Discussing the situation, Ellison said,

"Ultimate ran well at Musselburgh but I think the winner of that race will take some beating at Cheltenham. We may have lost a shoe during the race, but I think we would have been hard pressed to win. He is improving all the time, but the worry for Saturday would be the ground. He wants it decent really, and I certainly don't want to see any more rain." Ellison added,

"He is in the Fred Winter at Cheltnham, but I don't think we will go there with him. We might look at Aintree, but we may just allow him to strengthen up for next season."

Ellison has also indicated, Bothy, who completed a three timer at Taunton earlier in the week, will represent the stable at Cheltenham, his main target being the Fred Winter, but if he fails to get into that race, Ellison will allow him to take his chance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

No decision on Mikael run.

When asked after racing at Thurles on Thursday when former top class novice hurdler Mikael D'Haguenet is likely to make his debut over fences, his trainer Willie Mullins commented:

"He put in some good work at Fairyhouse after racing on Wednesday, and he has entries in the Trim Beginners Chase at Navan on Saturday and the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Leopardstown the following day, but a final decision on where and if he runs will depend on how he looks on the day and the state of the ground at the relevant traks,."

Editor's Comment - So that makes everything as clear as mud then!

Raihana bounces back in UAE Oaks.

A tad disappointing in the UAE 1,000 Guineas earlier this month, The Mike de Kock trained Raihana put that disappointment behind her when getting on top close home in Thursday's UAE Oaks at Meydan Racecourse.

The four-year-old was a brilliant winner on her track debut in January, but could only finish fourth when a short priced favourite for the 1,000 Guineas a fortnight ago.

An 11/4 shot in yesterday's race, Raihana followed Kieran Fallon on Mark Johnston's Bikini Babe into the straight, and when asked the question by partner Christophe Soumillon, Raihana found plenty, eventually wearing down Bikini Babe to land the Listed prize.

Following the successful run, Mike de Kock said,

"She did that nicely, and she will now go for the UAE Derby, as I think she is good enough to win that prize as well."