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New Mill too hot for Snowy Morning.

Despite a host of placings, 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chaser New Mill had not won a race since the Red Mills Hurdle in 2007, but today at Thurles he proved he is no back number as he snatched a solid victory in the Grade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase.

Following a very steady pace on 'gluey ground', jockey Eddie Power decided to let New mill inject some pace a mile fromhome, and while race favourite Snowy Morning went in pursuit, down the home straight he could never get on terms with the race leader, with New Mill galloping all the way to the line for a three length success.

Winning trainer John Murphy admitted New Mill might not win a major festival race again due to his advancing years, but he indicated there could still be some good prizes to be collected with the former top class steeplechaser.

Soumillon and De Kock get first with Raihana.

After an Arabian contest set the scene, the first thoroughbred race on today's inaugural day at the new Meydan Racecourse in Dubai was the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial over 7 furlongs, and it was the Mike de Kock trained Christophe Soumillon ridden South African filly Raihana who gave herself a footnote in history as the first ever thoroughbred winner at the new billion pound racecourse.

Denman given AON Chase option.

As we suggested the other day, Denman's owners, Paul Barber and Harry Findlay, are both strong minded men. So it comes as no suprise to learn they have decided to ignore Paul Nicholls's preference of racing Denman in this Saturday's Argento Chase at Cheltenham, and instead they have decided to wait a fortnight and allow Denman to take his chance in the AON Chase at Newbury.

In some respects, last evening's decision by the owners has a logical background, for Denman has a 100% record at Newbury, having won all five of his starts at the Berkshire track.

However, we feel Paul Barber and Harry Findlay may have missed a trick, for the steeplechase circuit at Newbury is in no way similar to the Cheltenham Gold Cup circuit, and while Denman has obviously won over the Prestbury Park track in the past, as many trainers advise, 'you can never get enough experience of the idiosyncracies of the Gloucestershire circuit'.

With Denman now out of the Argento Chase, Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride stablemate Inchaidaly Rock in Saturday's three mile contest.

Money Trix also to by-pass Argento Chase.

On Thursday afternoon, Nicky Richards confirmed Money Trix would now by-pass Saturday's Argento Chase at Cheltenham in favour of a run in next weekend's Hennessy Chase at Leopardstown.

Explaining his decision, Richards said,

"With Denman going to Newbury for the AON Chase, the Argento Chase became less attractive to our fellow, and we will now revert to our original plan of going for the Hennessy at Leopardstown. I know we will have to beat Joncol, but we have already had him behind us over Christmas in the Lexus Chase, and if the ground does not dry out too much, we should be able to confirm those placings in the Hennessy."

Mill Chief confirmed for Adonis Hurdle.

Following on from Mill Chief's easy 6 length win at Huntingdon on Wednesday, trainer Alan King has today confirmed the four-year-old french import will have his final preparation race for the JCB Triumph Hurdle in Kempton's Racing Post sponsered Adonis Novice Hurdle on 27 February.

Somersby given Hereford preparation race.

After taking into account likely going and available jockeys, Henrietta Knight has decided her Henry VII Novice Chase winner Somersby will swirve the Skybet sponsered Grade 2 Lightning Novices Chase at Doncaster on Saturday in favour of the smaller two mile Lindley Caterers Novice Chase at Hereford on Sunday.

Discussing her decision, Knight said,

"This will be Somersby's last race before the Arkle Trophy, and I want to ensure he gets everything in his favour. I don't think it is sensible to ask a genuine big race prospect to undertake a hard race before the main event, and I will be very happy if he can win on Sunday without having to expend too much effort."

Seventy-one still in RSA line up.

At the latest decleration stage for the RSA Chase, the appeal of the contest has ensured it maintains one of the biggest pre-race entries for this year's Cheltenham Festival.

There are no major suprises amongst the current 71 entrants, with both of Nicky Henderson's anti post market leaders - Punchestowns and Long Run - maintaining there current entry.

It would seem after his emphatic success in the Altcar Novices Chase at Haydock on Saturday, the Nick Williams trained Diamond Harry will take up his RSA Chase option rather than re-opposing Big Bucks in the World Hurdle.

As usual thereis a very strong Irish entry, with the raiding party being headed by last season's Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle winner Weapons Amnesty, but the Willie Mullins potential main challenger Mikael D'Haguenet has yet to run over fences due to recurrent injury problems, and despite his current entry in the race, he has to be a serious doubt at this particular stage.

However, Noel Meade's Pandorama is unbeaten this season, and he would have a definite chance if the going at this year's Cheltenham Festival exhibited some cut.

Alan King has confirmed Bensalem will only take up his entry if he can overcome his third last fall in Saturday's Altcar Chase by completing a successful full round in his next preparation race.

Nigel Twiston Davies has entered Jaunty Journey, and perhaps more suprisingly Pettifour, the latter having suffered a setback which was thought to have excluded him for the remainder of the current national hunt season.

Arkle Challenge Trophy entry remains strong.

Connections of forty-seven young chasers have confirmed their entries at today's latest decleration stage for the Irish Independant sponsered Arkle Challenge Trophy on the first day of this year's Cheltenham Festival.

While current anti post favourite Sizing Europe will go straight to the two mile Grade 1 contest, Eddie Harty has not yet decided if felow leading fancy Captain CEE Bee will have a preparation run. But former top class hurdler osana, who finished behind Sizing Europe at Leopardstown, (when Captian Cee Bee fell at the last while in contention), will have a further preparation run in the Grade 2 Flying Bolt Novice Chase at Navan on 14 February. With Osana's past experience of finishing second in a Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, his connections seem very ebullient that he will thrive on the probable large field hurly burly of the Arkle Trophy, and they think this may be enough for Osana to reverse placings with Sizing Europe.

Fellow Irish trainer Willie Mullins currently has 8 entries, but with main prospect Mikael D'Haguenet still a doubtful runner, Mullins will be hoping Cousin Vinny can eventually find Grade 1 winning form at Prestbury Park.

The main British runners include; the Paul Nicholls trained Tataniano, who has his preparation race against just two rivals at Newbury tomorrow - Henrietta Knight's Somersby, who has his final outing before Cheltenham at Hereford on Sunday - Nicky Henderson has several possible runers, the most prominent being top class french imprt Long Run and recent Kempton winner Mad Max.

Character takes first step on Grand National preparation route.

Having missed out on a run in last year's Aintree Grand National due to a last minute setback, and then having missed November's Hennessy Gold Cup through injury, the John Quinn trained Character Building has actually not been seen on a racecourse since his win in the 2009 Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham.

All that should be put right when the ten-year-old has his belated seasonal debut in Saturday's skyvegas.com Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster.

Discusssing the above race and future plans, trainer John Quinn said,

"Character Building has not had major problems, just muscle pulls and tweeks, and he goes into Saturday's race in great shape. This initial hurdle race will give him a gentle re-introduction to competitive jumping, and if all goes well, he will then head to next month's Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock." Quinn added,

"The main target this season is the John Smiths Grand National at Aintree, but if he stays fit, we may well take in a race at the Cheltenham Festival, or we might even take in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse."

Goldsworthy knows Cheltenham will suit Kennel Hill.

Trainer Keith Goldsworthy believes Kennel Hill did not like the close proximity of the Grandstand area on his last run at Kempton Park, and the Pembrokeshire handler thinks this explains why Kennel Hill eased himself up and drifted across the course while in front, thus allowing The Minack to Achieve an 8 length victory.

But back at Cheltenham for Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle, Goldsworthy expects his charge to recapture the kind of form which saw him finish second to the very well regarded Tell Massini earlier in the season.

"Cheltenham is a wide open course, and this will certainly suit Kennel Hill. His main objective will be the albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at March's Cheltenham Festival, and a good run on Saturday will go a long way to convincing me he has a good chance in that particular contest."

Nomecheki to step up in grade.

Nomecheki, the race winner who caused owner Andy Stewart to explode with rage when he was raised 15 pounds by the official handicapper for a narrow victory at Plumpton, could be stepped up to Grade 2 company by trainer Nick Gifford. Now with virtually no handicap opportunities, the handler is to ask Stewart if he can run Nomecheki in Saturday's Grade 2 Lightning Novices Chase at Doncaster. Explaining his thoughts, Gifford commented,

"With his current rating after the Plumpton race, he would have to carry top weight in any good quality handicap, but with several good horses having now decided not to run in the Doncaster race, it makes sense to give him an opportunity in Grade 2 company, but that decision will be left to Mr Stewart."

Moore now eyeing flat prize with Fix therib.

Trainer Gary Moore is delighted he decided to give Fix therib a run on the flat at Kempton Park on Wednesday, rather than risk him on unsitable soft ground over obstacles this weekend.

After watching his charge finish a good second to the well regarded odds-on Cairnmore, Moors said,

"The onemile three furlongs of last night's contest was totally inadequate for Fix therib, and I suspect Cairnmore is an above average maiden to be running at this time of year, and it now convinces me there is a good flat race to be won with Fix therib at some stage in the future!"

Curlin stud fees dropped by a third.

A sure sign the worldwide recession is still having a major negative effect on the racing industry was today highlighted by the news former world number one race horse Curlin has had his stud fee dropped from $60,000 to $40,000.

With bloodstock sales and stud fees mainly in negative figures for the past twelve months, it would seem horse racing has a long way to go before it starts to show any signs of an economic up-turn.

Mixed fortunes for national hunt jockeys.

Champion flat jockey Ryan Moore's younger brother Joshua is today counting his blessings after returning home in one piece after a horrible fall at Huntingdon on Wednesday afternoon. The amateur jockey is reported to be bruised and shaken but in one piece, and that is more than be said for fellow jump jockey David Cross.

Cross suffered a compound double fracture of his leg at Plumpton in November, and he has just learnt the injury is not healing correctly, and he could now face additional surgery which could keep him sidelined for a minimum of another three months.

As extrovert Cross has been growing his hair and beard for charity during his lay-off, and he has no intention of cutting it until he returns to race riding, the news he may have to continue growing his 'hairy bits' for a lot longer leads him to imagine he could look like 'Cousin It' from the Addams Family by the time he eventually gets to the official cutting ceremony.