Carlisle Called Off.Today's fixture at Carlisle became the latest victim of the current cold snap. An early morning inspection confirmed a hard frost had left the course unraceable, and the unwelcome decision to call the meeting off became inevitable. Henderson has to change plans.Nicky Henderson has admitted he was using yesterday's Toteswinger Long Distance Hurdle as a confidence booster for Duc de Regniere before he sent him back chasing. But following yesterday's emphatic victory over good opposition in the Newbury Grade Two contest, he has now decided to aim the Duc at the remaining 2008 2009 stamina hurdle races in the UK and Ireland. Madison has earned his share of the limelight.The combination of Pipe and Scudamore has been winning major steeplechases for many years, and yesterday, it was the turn of trainer David Pipe and jockey Tom Scudamore to keep the tradition set by their respective fathers alive. Despite his twenty five to one starting price, Madison du Berlais was not winning out of turn in yesterday's Hennessy Gold Cup. He had finished fourth in last year's corresponding race, and was one of those horses who was always 'there abouts' in major contests, and it has to be said, he was obviously well prepared and ridden, and on the day, he coped better than his more illustrious rivals with the strong early pace and sticky underfoot conditions. The runner up, Airforce One, will almost certainly win a major race when underfoot conditions are more suitable, while Big Bucks, the well supported favourite, will have to improve his jumping if he is to become a major force on the steeplechasing scene. Of the other runners; third placed Snoopy Loopy deserves his current place at the top of the Order of Merit, for he put in another cracking run unde a huge weight, My Will put in a great performance after such a long lay-off through injury, and Nicky Henderson's Oedipe needs better ground, and will certainly have benefitted for his first run in yesterday's race. Wiley waits on vet report.Graham Wiley, the owner of Inglis Drever, yesterday indicated, he will wait on the vets report before deciding whether to retire the three time Ladbroke World Hurdle winner. At first glance, it seems he may have suffered tendon damage in yesterday's Toteswinger Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, but the extent of the damage will determine his future career. Trafford Lad keeps unbeaten chasing record in Drinmore.Trafford Lad maintained his unbeaten novice steeplechasing record in today's Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse, and as a result, he has been catapulted to the head of the market for the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Catch Me wins, but Brave Inca impresses on return.Catch Me kept up his great record in major Irish hurdle races with a hard fought win in today's Bar-One Racing Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, but many spectators were also impressed with a good run by former Champion Hurdler Brave Inca, who was returning to the track today after a long lay-off through injury.
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