Havingotascoobydo Out For Season

Martin Keighley has been dealt a blow with the news that Havingotascoobydo has been ruled out for the season through injury.

The seven-year-old was second favourite for the Cheltenham Novices' Chase (formerly Centenary Novices' Chase) at the Festival next month, and had put together a series of good efforts this season.

However, he damaged his back when being put through his paces on the schooling grounds and will not run again this term.

Keighley tweeted: "Havingotascoobydo damaged some back muscles schooling and won't be back in time for Cheltenham, so we've decided to finish him for the season.

"The whole team are so disappointed as he was going there with such a great chance."

Colour Squadron at Newbury on Friday

Colour Squadron will bid to enhance his Cheltenham Festival claims by securing another victory over hurdles at Newbury on Friday.

The Philip Hobbs-trained six-year-old beat the talented Montbazon at the Berkshire track in December and confirmed that promise with a tremendous run in defeat in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, going down by only a short-head to Captain Conan.

The latter let the form down with a no-show in Ireland at the weekend, but Hobbs remains positive about Colour Squadron's prospects for next month's Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

"Richard (Johnson) actually just schooled him and the plan is to run him at Newbury on Friday. A little more experience wouldn't do him any harm," said Hobbs.

News On Binocular

Binocular will bypass the BetVictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Wednesday and now heads straight for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 2010 Champion Hurdle hero has not been seen since landing his second Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and trainer Nicky Henderson had been hoping to give his charge one more run before the Festival.

But with an intended run at Sandown earlier this month scuppered by frost and options now running out, connections have decided to complete the gelding's Cheltenham preparations at home.

"He won't be going to Kelso and he'll go straight to Cheltenham now," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

"Nicky is happy with him at the moment and doesn't think it will be a problem.

"Hopefully we have a trouble-free run and the horse gets there in top form."

Folkestone Off

This afternoon's meeting at Folkestone has been abandoned due to a frozen track.

Clerk of the course Neil Mackenzie Ross had hoped the warmer temperatures would bring about some improvement in the ground, but a 7.30am inspection showed that some unavoidable areas of the track are still frozen and Mackenzie Ross has been forced to call off the card.

He said: "Whilst there has been a big improvement, some key areas of the track remain frozen solid. They have not improved in the last 24 hours and with the forecast we have of cloudy weather and temperatures of 5C or 6C, I don't see them improving in the next few hours."

Mackenzie Ross added: "On that basis, we've decided it is best to abandon rather than drag it out."

Exeter and Hereford Inspections

The meeting at Exeter on Sunday is subject to a precautionary 8am inspection on raceday due to the threat of frost.

The track is perfectly raceable today but sub-zero temperatures are forecast for the next two nights.

"We had no frost last night and we had rain rather than snow. We've called an 8am precautionary inspection to keep everyone ahead of the game," said clerk of the course Barry Johnson.

"It could be minus 4C tonight and Saturday night but the daytime temperatures give us a chance. It depends how quick the temperature rises."


Sunday's meeting at Hereford is also subject to a further inspection at 11.30am on Saturday.

Catterick Check

Officials at Catterick will stage an inspection at 8am on Sunday to assess the prospects of Monday's meeting going ahead.

The North Yorkshire circuit remains frozen and partially covered in snow, leaving clerk of the course Fiona Needham less than optimistic.

"The course has been frozen since February 3 and the ground is frozen solid at the moment. The only glimmer of hope is that it is due to get warmer from Sunday into Monday, but I fear it might be too little too late," she said.

"We'll review the forecast on Sunday morning and see if there is any point carrying on, but I'm not very hopeful of racing at this stage."

China Rock The One To Follow?

Mouse Morris feels China Rock has plenty going for him as he has his second crack at the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The nine-year-old won his first two starts last season, and an excellent third behind Kauto Star and Sizing Europe at Down Royal offered connections plenty of encouragement for the spring. But after being well beaten in a heavy ground Hennessy 12 months ago, he was pulled up after suffering an injury in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He ran creditably on his belated seasonal return in a hurdle race at Punchestown last month, and with significant improvement anticipated, Morris is confident of a big run (My E/W selection)