Scotia on Cheltenham ante-post.

Katchit and Karabak will head straight for Festival

TRAINER Alan King has confirmed Katchit and Karabak will head straight to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 18.

Both were set to contest the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday, but Karabak was forced to miss the race in which 2008 Champion Hurdle winner Katchit was beaten just over five lengths into third by Tidal Bay.


Quoted on his website, King said of Katchit: "He might not have the speed of old, but the enthusiasm is certainly still there and he never stopped battling up the hill. I was absolutely delighted with that run, and the World Hurdle will be his next race."

Karabak is 6-1 with the Ladbrokes to upset the reigning champions and odds-on favourite Big Buck's and King, who won the stayers' crown with My Way De Solzen in 2006,added: "I still have a few who are not quite right, and as I was not 100 per cent happy with Karabak's final scope we opted out of Cheltenham.

"I did not want to take any chances. My original intention anyway after his run against Big Buck's in the Long Walk was to go straight to the Festival, so it is not a problem."

This adds another dimension to the big clash, what a showdown

Tony McCoy handed plum ride on Denman


TONY McCOY is to ride Denman for the first time when the 2008 Gold Cup winner and second favourite runs in the Aon Chase at Newbury on February 13.

Trainer Paul Nicholls, writing exclusively in the Racing Post, announced that McCoy would remain on board Denman for his titanic third showdown with stablemate Kauto Star in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 19.

McCoy: Denman can find chinks in Kauto Star

TONY McCOY, revealed on Saturday as the jockey who will ride Denman in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, thinks the dual Hennessy winner is the horse to capitalise on any chinks in the armour of reigning champion Kauto Star.


The champion jockey has never ridden Denman, but will be on board the horse they callThe Tank in the Grade 2 Aon Chase at Newbury next Saturday, before partnering the giant chaser in a mouth-watering clash with his Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Kauto Star at Cheltenham on March 19.

Speaking on Sky Sports News on Saturday morning, McCoy, whose only victory in the Festival showpiece came aboard Mr Mulligan in 1997, said: "The Gold Cup being the race it is, and having those two horses in it this year, to get on one of them is every jockey's dream - it's great.

"Denman's won two Hennessys, a Gold Cup and is a very powerful horse. If there's any chinks in Kauto Star's armoury, he'll find them out - that's for sure."

Looking ahead to the Aon - a race the Paul Barber and Harry Findlay-owned gelding won en route to his Gold Cup success in 2008 - McCoy added: "All being well, I'll get to ride him next Saturday at Newbury, which is something I'm really looking forward to."


Kauto Star and Denman have dominated the Gold Cup betting for most of the season and McCoy is expecting something special at Cheltenham.

He said: "They are two exceptional horses that are hopefully going to put on an exceptional show and hopefully Denman will come out on top."

Carlito cut for Triumph after Musselburgh win


CARLITO BRIGANTE came through his Triumph Hurdle test on Sunday at Musselburgh with flying colours, prompting bookmakers to slash his odds for the Festival clash.

Boylesports reacted most dramatically to the Gordon Elliott-trained hurdler's victory in the John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle, making Carlito Brigante a 7-1 chance for the Triumph (from 12), while William Hill are a best priced 10-1 (from 12) about the Irish raider.

Pittoni, winner of Sunday's Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle, was another mover in the Triumph market, and was cut by over ten points by some bookmakers. Boylesports and Ladbrokes are best priced about the Charles Byrnes-trained horse at 16-1 (from 25 and 20).

In a separate move, the Willie Mullins-trained Secant Star, who has not run since easily landing a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park on January 21, was trimmed for the Triumph to 8-1 by William Hill and Paddy Power (from 12-1 and 10-1 respectively).

Joncol was cut for the Ryanair Chase after getting the better of Cooldine at Leopardstown in the Hennessy Gold Cup. Boylesports and Stan James go 5-1 from 8-1, while William Hill, Paddy Power and Totesport rate him a 6-1 chance.

Schindlers Hunt, who briefly threatened to upset Cooldine and Joncol at Leopardstown before finishing third, was trimmed into 10-1 for the Ryanair by Paddy Power and Victor Chandler (from 16 and 25).

Dunguib, who hacked up at Leopardstown despite some shaky jumping, firmed up as Supreme Novices’ favourite. He was trimmed into odds-on with most firms, although Ladbrokes offer evens from 11-10.

Aon Chase and Game Spirit entries reopened


THE Aon Chase and Totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday, which are set to feature Denman and Master Minded, have been reopened after bothraces attracted small fields.


Denman, the 2008 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, was one of nine horses engaged in the Aon Chasewhile the Game Spirit, in which Master Minded is set to run, drew only four, one of which was former Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes.

Expecting the races to produce small fields, Paul Nicholls also included his John Smith's GrandNational hope Tricky Trickster in the Aon Chase while putting novice Take The Breeze in the Game Spirit.

Both races will now reopen until 11am on Tuesday.

Tricky Trickster has an alternative engagement at Exeter on Sunday while Take The Breeze is also entered in the Totesport.com Kingmaker Novices Chase at Warwick.

The Aon Chase will be Denman's first appearance since his victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Tony McCoy will partner the horse for the first time. Master Minded has not run since suffering his first defeat over 2m in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham in November, after which he was found to have a fractured rib.

Walsh hoping Kauto is right choice in Gold Cup

RUBY WALSH is hoping he has made the right decision in sticking with Kauto Star as his ride in next month's Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Speaking at the press conference to mark the launch of the Irish Racing Post in Dublin on Monday, Walsh said "Decision time for my Gold Cup ride came a bit sooner than I had hoped it would.

"I would have loved to have ridden Denman in the Aon Chase and to see how Nacarat (fourth behind Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase) gets on in the Racing Post Chase before having to make a choice between Kauto Star and Denman.

"It's always easier to make decisions whenyou have all the available information in front of you, but I had to make a decision last week and having won two Gold Cups, four King Georges and a host of other good races on Kauto Star, in the heart and the head, I suppose I was always going to side with him.

"They are two exceptional horses and there is probably only a good jump between them. It is only my choice and I've made wrong choices in the past, but the Festival is still five weeks away and, like the horses, I haveto get there in good shape. So I'm not going to get too worked up about the choice I've made, or other choices I will have to make, this far in advance."

Reflecting on Sunday's racing at Leopardstown on and Cooldine's neck defeat by Joncol in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Walsh added: "The doubt about Cooldine was that he might be that bit short of match practice and that proved to be the case.

"But he showed good improvement from the Lexus Chase and, knowing him, he is going to improve a good bit more. But he will need to, going in against Kauto Star and Denman at Cheltenham.

Hidden Universe mover in Bumper market

THE racingpost.com exclusive on Monday morning that the Dermot Weld-trained Elegant Concorde could miss the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in the event of very soft ground has resulted in stablemate Hidden Universe being cut for the same race by bookmakers.

Hidden Universe was halved in price by William Hill to 7-1, and the firm lengthened Elegant Concorde to the same price.

Also cutting Hidden Universe were Stan James (13-2 from 14-1), and Victor Chandler, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes, who all went 8-1.

Weld also urged punters to hold fire on Rite Of Passage, whom he considers good enough for a Flat campaign, but that did not stop Ladbrokes from cutting him to 4-1 (from 5) for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

There were plenty of market movers for the RSA Chase, notably Monday Southwell winner Burton Port, about whom Chandler go 20-1 (from 33).

There is bound to be at least one RSA Chase mover on Tuesday too, as Tom Segal in his Racing Post Pricewise column reveals his ante-post fancy for the race.

There were also a few Flat-race movers on Monday too. Quality Road was cut to 5-1 (from for the Dubai World Cup by Stan James, while in the same race Gitano Hernando was made a 10-1 shot (from 14) by Paddy Power.

The same firm made Timepiece the 14-1 joint-favourite (from 20), with You'll Be Mine, for the Investec Oaks

Dunguib 'bright as a button' after Deloitte win

DUNGUIB was on Monday reported to be "as bright as a button" following his power-packed victory in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle and his trainer also stressed that a tilt at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle is “not on the agenda now”.

Philip Fenton’s seven-year-old started the 3-10 favourite for the Grade 1 event and although scoring in almost effortless fashion at the expense ofFionnegas, the standard of his jumping attracted plenty of attention.



“When we schooled him beforehand you could touch your eyes on top of his back he was that good, so I was expecting a better round of jumping,” admitted Fenton.

“We’ll work on a bit more schooling when he starts back and considering his jump at the last was probably his best I’m hoping a faster pace at Cheltenham should help his jumping.”



“He’s the most amazing horse as he licked his pot clean last night and was a bright as a button out in the field at 8am,” added the Tipperary trainer.

“He was on cloud nine after going out this morning and he won’t have a saddle on him for ten days now before we start getting him ready for Cheltenham and the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The timing of Sunday’s race leaves us with plenty of time to prepare him for his next race.”



Dunguib was on Monday cut to 4-5 favourite from even money for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle by Ladbrokes, the firm that were biggest about the seven-year-old after the Deloitte Hurdle.



David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "Everyone had plenty of time to get on at evens but we are now full to the brim with Dunguib in our book and the dam has burst."

McManus snaps up leading bumper hope

IRELAND’S leading jumps owner JP McManus has swooped to buy Britain’s top contender for the WeatherbysChampion Bumper in a major boost to the burgeoning career of trainer Rebecca Curtis.

On the recommendation of his retained jockey Tony McCoy, McManus has purchased Made In Time – a Ffos Las bumper winner under McCoy on his debut last month.


Curtis, who won the maiden hurdle at Ludlow on Wednesday with Black Jack Blues, also ridden by McCoy, is set to saddle Made In Time in the famous green and gold silks in the Bet Totepool at Totesport.com Winter Bumper at Newbury on Saturday.

A 16-1 chance for the festival with Ladbrokes, behind five Irish-trained horses, Made In Time was labelled “the best horse in Rebecca’s yard” by then-owner Gearoid Costelloe, the trainer’s partner, after posting a commanding six-length victory.

McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry said: “Tony liked Made In Time when he won on him and we will see how he fares on Saturday. It will be a step up in class.”


Curtis, based in Newport, Pembrokeshire, and in only her third term with a licence, was considering not running Made In Time again until Cheltenham, and although Saturday’s Grade 2 will provide a sterner examination of hiscredentials, she is optimistic that he can shine for her new patron.

“It’s a brilliant result to get an owner like JP McManus in the stable,” she said. “Made In Time should have improved from that Ffos Las run, and we would be quite hopeful on Saturday."

8/1 McCoy, does not have the hotties that Ruby has but??

Ruby Walsh odds-on to be top Festival jockey


RUBY WALSH has been installed as the 1-2 favourite to be the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Bookmakers Paddy Power make Barry Geraghty their second favourite at 100-30, while champion jockey Tony McCoy rates an 8-1 chance for the Thomas Pink-sponsored award.

Walsh will be hoping to continue where he left off at last year's Festival, when he recorded an astonishing seven victories. He was also leading rider at the Festival in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Thomas Pink Leading Cheltenham Festival Rider Award

Paddy Power: 1-2 Ruby Walsh, 100-30 Barry Geraghty, 8 Tony McCoy, 14 Robert Thornton, 16 Davy Russell, 25 Paul Carberry, Timmy Murphy, 33 Paddy Brennan, Richard Johnson, Jason Maguire, 50 Nina Carberry, Graham Lee, Paul Townend

Denman and Master star on Super Saturday card

TWO of the biggest names in jump racing will line up in what Newbury quite appropriately calls its Super Saturday meeting: champion two-mile chaser Master Minded and 2008 Gold Cup winner Denman, the biggest threat to Kauto Star’s Cheltenham crown.

One has questions to answer; the other just has a point to make.


Master Minded is returning from a three month lay-off and will need to win the Totepool Game Spirit Chase if he is to go to the Seasons Holidays-backed Champion Chase as the red-hot favourite he did last year.

Denman is far more of a certain proposition. Having already answered the questions posed after his heart problem by winning a stunning second Hennessy at this course earlier in the season, he will race in the Aon Chase seeking to burnish his already shining credentials for a crack at reclaiming his Gold Cup title from Kauto Star come March.

Harry Findlay, who co-owns Denman with Paul Barber, said on Friday: “All the reports are very good on Denman. Paul Barber sounds like he is about seven, and Clifford 'Kauto' Baker, as I call him, is very, very upbeat. There are no negative vibes.


"All he has ever done round Newbury is run brilliant. Everything is perfect.”

Tony McCoy will take his first ride on Denman in the Aon and said: "Denman is the only horse genuinely capable of beating Kauto Star and obviously I am looking forward to riding him."

Ruby Walsh was disappointed not to be riding Denman in the Aon but can at least console himself with the ride on Master Minded in the Game Spirit.

He said: "It's a big, big day for him as he's got it all to prove and show he is the horse he once was. Obviously he was very disappointing at Cheltenham lasttime when we thought he had an amazing chance. I have schooled him and I hope to God the real Master Minded turns up this time."

The Totesport Trophy, one of the season’s most intriguing betting races, has seen a late gamble for JP McManus's Get Me Out Of Here.


His trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He's in very good order and everything has gone well with him so far. I'd just be worried about his lack of experience for a race like this, though novices so have a fair record in it over the years."

Long Run drops back to two miles for his second appearance in Britain at Warwick in the Totesport.com Kingmaker Novices' Chase, where he faces four rivals.

Henderson said: “Everyone thinks this is a trial for the Arkle but it is 99 per cent certain he'll run in the RSA. This is just an easier prep for him.

“These three mile races take a lot out of any horse, let alone a five-year-old. I'm trying to look after him. It will be interesting from a jumping point of view as I think he'll find it easier to jump at a brisker pace over two miles.

Kauto 4-7 for Gold Cup after Denman drama


KAUTO STAR is as short as 4-7 with Ladbrokes to win the Totesport Gold Cup following a dramatic day at Newbury, which saw stablemate and main market rival Denman unseat Tony McCoy in the Grade 2 Aon Chase.

William Hill were initially the only firm among the big players not to go odds-on about the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star after cutting Clive Smith's champion to evens favourite (from 5-4). However, that was soon taken and Hills were forced down to 5-6.


Predictably, Denman, who was being ridden by McCoy for the first time in the Aon, drifted for the race he won so impressively in 2008 - he is 11-4 (from 15- with Totesport and a best-priced 7-2 with Betfred (from 2) and Ladbrokes (from 9-4).

Tricky Trickster,also trained by Nicholls, cemented his place at the head of the betting for the John Smith's Grand National after taking advantage of Denman's mishap in the Aon by snatching victory from Niche Market.

An 8-1 quote (from 14) from Coralwas the shortest on offer, while Stan James, who also went 33-1 (from 50) for Tricky Trickster in the Gold Cup, and Paddy Power had him at 10-1 (from 16).

Niche Market also earned quotes for the Aintree marathon and is 14-1 (from 16) with Stan James.

One Nicholls superstar to fire was Master Minded, who is now odds-on across the board to win a record-equalling third Seasons Holiday Queen Mother ChampionChase.

Coral and William Hill go 4-6 from 11-8 and 6-4 respectively, while Boylesports, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, Victor Chandler and Betfred offered 4-5.

The JP McManus-owned Get Me Out Of Here entered the festival picture with an impressive win in the Totesport Trophy.

He is 8-1 (first show) with Ladbrokes and 12-1 (from 33) with William Hill for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Get Me Out Of Here is also entered in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and earned quotes of 12-1 (from 25) with William Hill and 14-1 (from 33) with Victor Chandler for that race.

Long Run showcased his Cheltenham credentials with an authoratative display in the Totesport.com Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick.

He is likely to step back up in trip for the RSA Chase and was cut to 4-1 for that with Stan James, Victor Chandler and Totesport.

Other RSA movers included Diamond Harry and Bensalem who were separated by two lengths - in Diamond Harry's favour - in a novice chase at Newbury.

Diamond Harry is 5-1 (from 6) with Betfred, who joined Boylesports and Paddy Power - all from 20-1 - in going 14-1 about Bensalem.