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News last Updated at: 15:25 on 06/02/2012
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Nicholls cool over Zarkandar return
Paul Nicholls concedes Zarkandar has not been trained with Saturday's Betfair Hurdle as his highest priority - although he could still easily turn out to be good enough to win the prestigious Newbury handicap. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner is not far off being second favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle itself and the first Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival is when Nicholls wants him at his peak. Just a five-year-old, Zarkandar won a...read more
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Long Run fails to scare off rivals
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run could face up to 10 rivals as he bids to get off the mark for the campaign in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday. Nicky Henderson's star stayer looked to have the world at his feet when landing the blue riband of National Hunt racing last spring, but he has had to make do with minor honours behind the resurgent Kauto Star on his two appearances this season. With Kauto Star now being readied for yet a...read more
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Crus given Newbury option
Exciting grey Grands Crus is set to put his unbeaten record over fences on the line in the Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Novices' Chase at Newbury on Saturday. The top-class staying hurdler has made a brilliant start to his career over the larger obstacles, completing a hat-trick with a superb display in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. While he remains hot favourite for the RSA Chase at next month's Cheltenham Festival, conn...read more
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Hold team in the dark
Paul Nicholls hopes to learn more about Hold Fast's Cheltenham Festival credentials when he runs in the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury this weekend. The former Howard Johnson inmate was beaten on his first start for the champion trainer at Newbury early on this season, but he took a big lea...read more
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Denman progressing slowly
Denman's trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Paul Barber will get their heads together later in the year to decide how the great liver chestnut should best spend his retirement. The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner's recovery from injury has not advanced enough for him to parade at Newbury on Saturday ah...read more
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Whisky set to head to Cheltenham
Owner Dai Walters believes Oscar Whisky could head straight for a mouth-watering clash with Bug Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Walters, the owner of Ffos Las racecourse, had hoped to see his star performer defend his crown in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at the track o...read more
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Lingfield frozen off
Lingfield's National Hunt meeting on Wednesday has been abandoned due to a frozen track. After several freezing nights more frosts are forecast leaving officials with no choice but to draw stumps. Clerk of the course Neil Mackenzie Ross said on Monday: "The course is still under snow and it is froze...read more
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Rasen abandoned
Tuesday's meeting at Market Rasen has been abandoned due to a frozen track and snow. Officials at the course called an 8am inspection after temperatures dropped well below freezing over the weekend. The situation at the Lincolnshire venue was then compounded by some substantial snow on Saturday. Pip...read more
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Dream still in Hennessy frame
Jessies Dream remains on course to make his eagerly-anticipated seasonal debut in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday. The nine-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since going down fighting in last season's RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but Gordon Elliott's stable st...read more
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Starluck given Lingfield option
David Arbuthnot has raised the intriguing possibility that Starluck could contest the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield at the end of this month after his intended reappearance at Ffos Las on Saturday was scuppered by the weather. The high-class hurdler struggled over fences last spring and has since ...read more
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