Thumbs Up At Towcester

This afternoon's fixture at Towcester goes ahead following an 8am precautionary inspection.

Although the Northamptonshire track endured a further three millimetres of overnight rainfall, clerk of the course Robert Bellamy is happy with conditions.

He said: "It's very wet, but we are OK to race. It's a clear, dry day but thankfully one bad forecast we had was well wide of the mark. The going has just been changed to heavy."

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Sunday's National Hunt meeting at Towcester is subject to a precautionary inspection at 8am

Three millimetres of rain fell on Friday night, and a revised weather forecast suggests there is a chance of heavy rain passing through the region on Saturday night. The going is described as soft, heavy in places.

Chepstow's fixture on Bank Holiday Monday is also subject to a precautionary 8am inspection on Sunday morning.

Thirteen millimetres of rain in 24 hours has left the course heavy, waterlogged in places, but officials remain in a positive frame of mind.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said: "We are recovering on a daily basis. If the forecast is correct until the end of racing on Monday, we should be fine.

"It is due to be largely clear and dry, with just a possibility of rain."
Rain, Rain Go Away!

32Red Casino Stakes Preview

Island Sunset gets the chance to prove herself in better class at Kempton after winning all her four career starts to date.

The four-year-old tackles Listed company in the 32Red Casino Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes with two recent victories under her belt, after niggling little injuries had restricted her to just one run in each of the previous two seasons.

"She's in really good nick in herself, but I'd probably prefer it if the race were over a mile and a quarter," said trainer William Muir.

"She's got a poor draw in one, but at Kempton it's not too bad over a mile as you can get a better position down the back straight. Hopefully she'll be good enough to get some black type.

"She's been lightly raced as she's had problems, which I've had to deal with. Her last two runs were the first time I've been able to train her, run her, come out of her race and train her. She's fit and ready."

Shamwari Lodge warmed up for the mile test with a spin round Kempton on Wednesday. Partnered by Richard Hughes, she was accompanied by Leave It Alone and delighted her trainer Richard Hannon.

"Shamwari Lodge worked very well and it was a worthwhile trip as, though she gallops on the Polytrack at home, she has never yet raced on it," he told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"She has 5lb in hand on official figures and she never stopped improving last season so, hopefully, she can carry on where she left off."

Mosqueras Romance is drawn two, but trainer Marco Botti does not believe that will be much of a disadvantage for the course and distance winner, who shaped well on her reappearance when runner-up in a handicap at Wolverhampton three weeks ago.

"She should have come on for the run. She's rated just 82 and she's taking on horses (rated) much higher, but she's in good form," said the Newmarket handler.

National Update

Tony McCoy is leaning towards riding Don't Push It in the John Smith's Grand National.

The 14-times champion had been considered likely to partner Can't Buy Time in next Saturday's Aintree feature, but current ground conditions have forced a rethink.

Don't Push It and Can't Buy Time are both trained by Jonjo O'Neill and owned by JP McManus.

"There's no pressure to make a final decision until nearer the time, but having originally been pencilled in for Can't Buy Time, I now find myself leaning towards Don't Push It," McCoy told the Daily Telegraph.

"You can forgive Can't Buy Time his run in the race last year - he eventually fell at the 18th - because he went there on the back of a hard race in the four-mile chase at Cheltenham, but there is a slight question mark about his stamina and he definitely wouldn't want the ground too soft.

"To my mind, Don't Push It has a bit of class and ability, and he'd be fine on that ground.

"That is my thinking at the moment, and I reserve the right to change my mind several more times!"

Super Kenny Goes To Aintree

Nicky Henderson's Super Kenny will have his credentials fully tested in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle at Aintree next week.

Prominent in the betting for the Triumph Hurdle throughout the winter, he only made his debut over timber at Stratford on the Monday before the Festival began. He cruised to victory, though, leaving connections dreaming of bigger targets.

"Aintree is very much the plan. Nicky said he worked very well (on Wednesday) and, all being well, he will definitely go," said Harry Herbert, racing manager to the owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

"He looked professional at Stratford and Nicky has always said from the word go his schooling had been very good. It was a really encouraging debut and Nicky has also put him in the big race at Punchestown as well so he is more than happy with the way he is progressing.

"Ground-wise, he went on the soft on the Flat but Nicky has always thought he would be better if it was not so soft, so that may be an issue to watch for.

"In hindsight, it may prove to be a good thing we missed the Triumph, we were always slightly behind the clock for it and it just wasn't to be.

"We'll be thrilled if he runs a big race next week, it's a lovely group of people who own him which includes Kenny and Gabby Logan.

"Nicky is happy with him and it will be fun to find out how good he is, we know he's decent but we don't know if he's top-class."

Scottish National Fancy...there`s Denman too remember!

"Silver by nature,7/1 currently for Scottish grand national,getting almost 2 stone from denman! Going there fresh! You have to respect the tank! But I'm bullish about the grey horse! ;)"...Robert Mackay, Jockey.

WINNER!

7/2 WINNER! Hawridge Star, "held up in last place in chasing group, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on"..told ya!