NEW YEAR'S DAY RACING AT CHELTENHAM ABANDONED

ABANDONED

Meeting: New Year's Day

Date: Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Go to www.cheltenham.co.uk for further information

The New Year's Day fixture, scheduled for Tuesday, January 1 at Cheltenham, has been abandoned this morning.

Following a precautionary inspection at 10am on Sunday when parts of the course were found to be unraceable, another inspection was scheduled for 3pm today Monday, December 31.

But, after overnight rain and the onset of more rain this morning, racing on New Year's Day at Cheltenham Racecourse has been abandoned.

Anyone who has booked tickets, dining or hospitality in advance will receive a full refund.

Simon Claisse, the Clerk of the Course, commented this morning: "We have had further rain overnight, it is raining now and more is forecast. The course is waterlogged in too many places for racing to go ahead tomorrow.

"So, very sadly, we have lost a raceday for the first time since December, 2008. We have been in talks with the British Horseracing Authority about whether the Grade Two Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase can take place anywhere else."

Cheltenham races next on Festival Trials Day, Saturday, January 26, 2013. The gates open at 11am, with the first of seven races due off at 12.40pm.

The Grade Two £100,000 Argento Chase, a trial for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup at The Festival, is the feature race on a fantastic day's racing which also stages the Grade Two £60,000 Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle, the Grade Two £30,000 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial, the Grade Two £30,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and the Grade Three £50,000 Murphy Group Handicap Chase.

Many of the horses that run on Festival Trials Day are having their final start before The Festival and it is rare that this fixture does not feature at least one subsequent Festival winner.

Big Buck's kept up that record in 2012, winning the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle before a record-breaking fourth consecutive Ladbrokes World Hurdle victory in March. This is a great opportunity to see some of Jump racing's superstars and after racing there is another Brightwells Bloodstock Sale.

The Festival happens from Tuesday, March 12 to Friday, March 15 and is the embodiment of everything that is great about Cheltenham.

Ticket, dining and hospitality for Festival Trials Day and The Festival can be booked online at www.cheltenham.co.uk or by phoning 0844 579 3003 (tickets) or 01242 807 431(hospitality).

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CHELTENHAM INSPECTS AGAIN TOMORROW ABOUT NEW YEAR'S DAY

CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE UPDATE FOLLOWING THIS MORNING'S INSPECTION

Inspection - 3pm, Monday, December 31

Meeting: New Year's Day

Dates: Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Gates Open: 10.30am

First Race: 12.15pm

Admission prices from £12. Go to www.cheltenham.co.uk for further information

Another inspection, at 3pm tomorrow, Monday, December 31, will determine whether Cheltenham Racecourse can hold its New Year's Day fixture on Tuesday, January 1.

The course was found to be unraceable at a 10am inspection today (Sunday, December 30).

The forecast is for a band of rain clearing mid-afternoon tomorrow, Monday. In the event that the rain misses Cheltenham, there is still a chance that the course will dry out sufficiently to allow racing to go ahead.

On that basis, a further inspection is scheduled for 3pm on Monday, December 31. That inspection may be brought forward if the situation becomes clearer before then.

Web: www.cheltenham.co.uk 

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O'Shea And O'Neill Clean Up At Sharjah

Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea, with a treble and weighing room colleague Dane O'Neill with a double, were the men to follow at Sharjah on Saturday afternoon, the final UAE meeting of 2012.

O’Shea was keen to get to the front on the Gill Duffield-trained AF Hasba in a 1700m maiden and the pair were never headed with O’Shea making a decisive dash for home about 600m out. That proved a race-winning move and they never looked likely to be caught to open the jockey’s account for the afternoon.

He completed his double in a second 1700m maiden which he won comfortably on Callateral, owned by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and trained by Ernst Oertel and went on to provide the owner and trainer with doubles on Richlore.

He then won the concluding 1700m conditions race to the delight of O’Shea who said: “Obviously it has been a great afternoon and all three have won decisively. I was keen to get on with things with AF Hasba and that has suited her being out in front, while we know Callateral stays further so I was happy to commit for home turning in.

“Richlore won nicely and this 1700m course and distance has certainly been kind to me today.”

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum is in a strong position to retain his Champion Owner’s crown and supplied the 1-2 in the only Thoroughbred race a 1200m handicap.

His first colours were carried by Paul Hanagan on Serhaal, a 1000m winner at the previous meeting for Champion Trainer, Ali Rashid Al Raihe but it was Dane O’Neill who landed the spoils on the Doug Watson-trained Darej who ran on too strongly for Hanagan’s mount.

Watson said: “That was a nice effort and he has virtually led all the way which was the idea. Dane has given him a nice ride and I imagine we will stick to sprints now.”

O’Neill quickly registered a double with a comfortable success on Ameer Al Sraya in the following 2000m maiden for trainer, Tony Manuel who also saddled runner-up AS Alkhattaf. Manuel was top trainer at Sharjah last season with six winners and this victory equaled that tally to his delight.

“The dirt track here at Sharjah just seems to really suit our horses,” he said. “We thought we had some good chances today but you can only hope of saddling first and second in these big fields.”

The handicapper must have been delighted with his efforts after the 1700m handicap won by Helouane with Adrie De Vries in the saddle for trainer Jaber Bittar with the first six home separated by just two and a quarter lengths. Drawn 16 of 16, De Vries opted to settle his horse right out the back before weaving through rivals to lead virtually on the line.

Fantastic Jebel Ali Form Continues For Muhairi, Smith and Egziama

Record-Setting Russian Rock and Treble Jig Both Record Victories 

Treble Jig Returns to the winners enclosure led in by Musabah Al Muhairi
 as owner Fathi Egziama looks on delighted

Treble Time after Russian Rock completes trebles for Wayne Smith
and Al Muhairi as owner Egziama brings up a big race double

The amazing Jebel Ali run of owner Fathi Esaed Mohd Egziama, trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and jockey Wayne Smith continued on Friday afternoon when they celebrated a double in the two main races.

First up was Treble Jig, their winner of last season`s Jebel Ali Stakes and Jebel Ali Mile (a unique double) and proved too good for nine rivals in the 1800m prep race for the Jebel Ali Stakes, despite having to concede weight all round. Smith was happy to track a steady pace set by Paul Hanagan on Haatheq, in the colours of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum whose Shadwell breeding organisation sponsored the race.

The jockey always looked confident before sending his mount to the front about 400m out and they always looked in control with Haatheq staying on gamely to finish second – as he had done behind the same horse in last season’s Jebel Ali Mile.

Smith explained: “He is just a better horse at Jebel Ali than anywhere else and he seems to be improving. He could be a bit of a tearaway last season but has grown up so I was quite happy to take a lead knowing full well that he stays further up that hill.

“It was a very good performance considering he was giving weight away and we will be back in two weeks to defend our Jebel Ali Stakes crown and then a fortnight later in the Jebel Ali Mile.”

With a strong tailwind, Treble Jig was the third to set a course record on the day.

The same connections then combined with last season`s Jebel Ali Sprint winner Russian Rock. That victory last term rounded off a remarkable record-setting treble which saw the same connections winning all three of Jebel Ali`s biggest races. This time Russian Rock faced nine rivals in a 1200m conditions race and just held on from the fast-finishing United Color having led just after halfway.

Smith said: “I always thought I was going to hold on and it has been another great afternoon at my favourite track. The Jebel Ali Sprint in early March is his main target but we will find something else for him here before then.”

Trainer and jockey were actually completing a treble having also combined with Trojan Nights to win the 1600m handicap.

The only Purebred Arabian race on the card was the opening 1400m conditions race and Hanagan was in the saddle on AF Lafeh who broke the track record (Purebred Arabian) for trainer Gill Duffield. Hanagan said: “We knew he had a decent chance and I was able to get a nice berth and everything basically went to plan.”

The following 1400m handicap saw Tiz Now Tiz Then set a new 1400m (Thoroughbred) track record under apprentice jockey Marc Monaghan who was riding for his main employer Satish Seemar. Never far off the pace, Monaghan`s mount quickened clear from stable companion Kaiss approaching the final 200m and he was never going to be caught.

The eighteen-year-old jockey said: “I was always travelling strongly and he picked up nicely to win well. That is my 21st career winner and I am enjoying this stint in the UAE.”
Racing concluded with a 1200m maiden and Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe saddled a 1-2 with Harry Bentley and Need to Know denying Royston Ffrench on stable companion Latkhaf.

Serhaal Seeks Another Sharjah Victory

Sharjah Racecourse stages its penultimate meeting of the season on Saturday afternoon with the best of the action appearing to be the opening 1200m handicap, the only Thoroughbred contest on the six race card.

The maximum field of 16 are set to face the starter and Serhaal, a 1000m course winner three weeks ago, looks the one to beat. Owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he will be ridden by the owner’s retained jockey, Paul Hanagan and is trained by local champion, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

Hanagan said: “I was not aboard when he won earlier this month but he needed every yard of the 1000m on that occasion so the extra 200m should suit.”

He was chased home on that occasion by the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Parvaaz who looked set to give apprentice Sam James his first UAE winner only to be caught in the dying strides. He looks a big danger again and Captain Rio (fourth), No Hubris (fifth), Nanni The Teaser (seventh) and Musleh (eighth) will all try and reverse form with Serhaal and Parvaaz.

The meeting concludes with a 1700m conditions race which is arguably the best of the Purebred Arabian action. Trainer Ernst Oertel is set to saddle three of the 13 runners with Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, who rides for owner, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan when available, electing to partner Richlore from the trio.

O’Shea said: “She was just touched off here on her debut so we know the dirt surface is not an issue. She then ran well enough on turf at Abu Dhabi and hopefully she will run well.”

Five of the 13 runners are making their racecourse debuts with AF Al Fareed appealing most of two debutants trained by Gill Duffield and jockey bookings suggesting that Qutoof is best of the Tony Manuel runners.

Sharjah’s final meeting is on Saturday March 16

HECTOR'S CHOICE AIMING TO GO ONE BETTER AT CHELTENHAM ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

PRECAUTIONARY INSPECTION Meeting: New Year's Day Dates: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 Gates Open: 10.30am First Race: 12.15pm Admission prices from £12. Go to www.cheltenham.co.uk for further information Precautionary inspection - 10am, Sunday, December 30 Cheltenham hopes to stage an exciting seven-race card this Tuesday, January 1, headlined by the £50,000 Grade Three BetVictor.com Handicap Chase (2.30pm) over two miles and five furlongs. The valuable contest has attracted 24 entries headed by the Philip Hobbs-trained pair Wishfull Thinking (11st 12lb) and Menorah (11st 10ib), who bounced back to winning ways with a comfortable three and a half length victory in the Group Two Peterborough Chase at Kempton on December 27. The entries also include impressive 11-length Paul Stewart IronSpine Charity Challenge Gold Cup winner Unioniste (10st 12lb), who is one of four possible contenders for Paul Nicholls. The champion trainer could also saddle five-time course scorer Poquelin (11st 10lb), former high-class novice chaser Ghizao (11st 5lb) and Current Event (10st). Richard Lee is set to represented by Hector's Choice (10st 12lb), who went down by a length and a half to Calgary Bay in last year's renewal before returning to the home of Jump racing in April to win the Grade Two Ceres Estates Silver Trophy by four and a half lengths. The eight-year-old was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October but showed promise when fourth behind Alan King's Bless The Wings (11st) in a competitive handicap chase at Newbury on November 30. Lee revealed: "The plan is to run Hector's Choice in the BetVictor.com Handicap Chase and Jamie Moore has been booked to ride. "He has been in grand form since Newbury and he was second in the BetVictor.com Handicap Chase last year but it looks like being a very good race. "He won very nicely Cheltenham at the end of last season but whether this softer ground will suit him as much, I don't know, but it's the same for all of them. "He has found life a bit tougher this season because he has gone up in the handicap so much but he isn't going to drop in the handicap by standing in his stable. "We have been debating whether or not we should go up to three miles with him but we ran him in the Racing Plus Chase last year at Kempton and he didn't appear to quite get it, so we are running over two miles and five furlongs on softer ground." Other notable entries for the BetVictor.com Handicap Chase include Paddy Power Gold Cup third Nadiya De La Vega (10st 9lb), Becher Handicap Chase third Big Fella Thanks (10st 9lb)and Tartak (10st 6lb). The one Irish-trained entry is the unexposed seven-year-old Hidden Cyclone (11st 4lb), who lines up in this afternoon's Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. Tuesday's card is also likely to feature a mouth-watering clash between dual Grade One winner Oscar Whisky and 2011 Stan James Champion Hurdle runner-up Peddlers Cross in the £25,000 Centaur Hurdle (3.05pm, 12 entries) over an extended two and a half miles. Some of the country's leading novices' chasers will be hoping to enhance their reputations in the £32,000 Grade Two Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase (1.20pm - 13 entries)). The two mile and five furlong contest has been won by subsequent Grade One scorers My Way De Solzen and The Listener, and Nicky Henderson's Captain Conan is set to line up. Racing is scheduled to start at 12.15pm with the £10,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (26 entries) and the entries for the extended two and a half mile contest are headed by unbeaten hurdlers Clondaw Kaempfer, Easter Day and Grands Crus' full-brother Gevrey Chambertin. The action also includes the £20,000 Cheltenham Mobile Apps Handicap Chase (12.45pm, 21 entries), the £20,000 Mirrors Punters Club Handicap Hurdle (1.55pm, 21 entries) and concludes with the £16,000 Listed EBF "High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire's" Junior Bumper (3.40pm, 18 entries). GOING HEAVY AND A PRECAUTIONARY INSPECTION ANNOUNCED The going at Cheltenham remains Heavy after seven millimetres of rain yesterday. The GoingStick reading at 10am was 4.1. In view of the current forecast, which predicts up to 27 millimetres of rain before Tuesday, January 1, Cheltenham Racecourse will hold a precautionary inspection on Sunday (December 30) at 10am. Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham, commented at 11.30am today: "The going is heavy at the moment and the course is raceable but, with more rain forecast over the next few days, it is sensible to hold a precautionary inspection on Sunday. "The forecast says we could get a couple of millimetres today, with the prediction being for seven to eight millimetres tomorrow (Saturday), four to five millimetres on Sunday and 11 to 13 millimetres on Monday." Web: www.cheltenham.co.uk Mobile Apps: http://www.cheltenham.co.uk/about/mobile-apps/ Twitter: @CheltenhamRaces Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing

Record Setting Russian Rock And Treble Jig Back In Action At Jebel Ali

Record Setting Russian Rock And Treble Jig Back In Action At Jebel Ali 

Musabah Al Muhairi`s Stable Stars To Build On Promising Form

Treble Jig, winner of both the Jebel Ali Stakes and Jebel Ali Mile and Russian Rock, who triumphed in the Jebel Ali Sprint are both in action at the track’s final meeting of 2012 on Friday afternoon. The record-setting duo helped their owner, Fathi Esaed Mohd Egziama, trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi and stable jockey, Wayne Smith to a previously unheard of clean sweep of Jebel Ali’s three biggest races, while Treble Jig became the first horse to land the Stakes and Mile.

Treble Jig is penalised for those wins and will need to be at his best in the 1800m conditions race which is the official prep for the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes over 1950m but Smith sounds very hopeful. “He has run two great races this season at Meydan and Abu Dhabi but is a better horse at Jebel Ali and I think he is the one they all have to beat,” he said.

Heading the dangers would appear to be Haatheq, winner of this prep race two years ago and trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum whose Shadwell breeding organisation generously sponsor the race. The owner`s retained jockey, Paul Hanagan takes the ride and was clearly impressed with the horse`s course victory over 1600m two weeks ago.

“Haatheq has a touch of class,” Hanagan said. “And that was a great performance last time. It had been a while since he had won but he has run some massive races in defeat and I expect him to go very close on Friday.”

Course and distance winner Jutland, trained by Doug Watson, looks a serious rival and the trainer said: “After he won on his seasonal return this was always the next real target and then the Jebel Ali Stakes. We found a race for him at Meydan and he ran well but he likes Jebel Ali and will relish the 1950m of the Stakes itself but should run well over 1800m.

“It is a step up in class but I am hopeful though Treble Jig and Haatheq are clearly big dangers.”
An hour later Russian Rock will face 10 rivals in a 1200m conditions race which has also attracted Spin Cycle, winner of the 2011 Jebel Ali Sprint (1000m). This looks ultra competitive and Smith continued: “Russian Rock is another who seems a better horse at Jebel Ali and we expect a big run against some familiar rivals.”

These include Mujaazef, again representing Sheikh Hamdan, Al Raihe and Hanagan. He beat Russian Rock in a similar race over 1000m last time when Kilt Rock was third for Watson and his enthusiastic group of owners, the Emirates Entertainment Racing Club (EERC).

Dhruba Selvaratnam, who trains on the track for racecourse owner Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, introduces two new horses to the UAE in the shape of United Color and Shabora and the pair add extra intrigue to a fascinating sprint clash.

First Flights Touch Down Ahead of January 10 Dubai World Cup Carnival

High-Profile Horses To Contest Dubai’s Big Money International Season

Horses from 21 countries, including 26 International Group 1 winners, have been accepted for the Dubai World Cup Carnival which gets underway on January 10 at Meydan Racecourse.

The first flights, bearing more than 60 horses, touched down from Europe and Singapore during the Christmas week and a further 70 horses are due to arrive in the first week of January.

The list of equine stars features high-profile racehorses including India’s highly-regarded filly, In The Spotlight, who claimed an Indian Classic at every racing centre in the country including Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune, before travelling to Dubai.

Conditioned by S. Padmanabhan, In The Spotlight is slated to have her first Dubai World Carnival start in a handicap on January 17, when she will race for the first time on a left-handed course as well as against truly international competition.

Back for a second season is Singapore-based trainer, Steven Burridge, who enjoyed great success on his debut season in Dubai in 2012. Burridge, who claimed four winners from 11 runs, is set to saddle four horses this season, including Benji’s Empire, Devil’s Cut, Freezemaster and Tiger Stripes.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival culminates with the March 30 Dubai World Cup, the richest day of racing in the world, which carries USD$27,25m in prize purses. In total the Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup day are worth $37,36m in prize money.

“The start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival is fast approaching and excitement is building as more and more contenders arrive at Meydan Racecourse ahead of the January 10 start date,” said Martin Talty, Dubai Racing Club’s International Manager. “One of the most pleasing aspects so far is not only the numbers and the truly global reach of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but also the quality of horses, which continue to improve year on year.

“While many trainers specifically target particular races in the Dubai World Cup Carnival, it is also fascinating to watch progressive horses that improve so much during the ten meetings that they ultimately earn a place in a race on Dubai World Cup day.”

Last year Krypton Factor won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News on Dubai World Cup day after progressing through the highly-regarded Dubai World Cup Carnival sprint races. The Fawzi Nass charge is set to defend his crown this season with his first start likely to be in the February 14 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint.

Next year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival also sees Pearl Bloodstock, the owners of 2012 Caulfield Cup winner and 2011 Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase victor, Dunaden, cheering on their first Dubai runners. Side Glance, Dubawi Sound and King Air have all been accepted to the three-month long festival of racing.

Pat Shanahan, a familiar face at the Dubai World Cup Carnival as a jockey, returns to try his hand from the ground as trainer with Chicago, My Special J’s, and Colliding Worlds all accepted.

Another rider-turned-trainer, Jessica Harrington, a former eventer who achieved a third at the world-renowned Badminton Horse Trails, saddles her first Dubai runner, Bob Le Beau.

To see the list of accepted horses for the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival, please click on the link below:

http://dubairacingclub.com/sites/default/files/2013_DWCC.pdf

Please note that this is a working database which is subject to change.

Quite A Show Stages A Surprise At Meydan Racecourse

Doug Watson’s Purebred Arabian Claims Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah

Quite A Show sprang something of a surprise in the featured Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, defying a Group 1 penalty to land the 1600m contest, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card at Meydan on Thursday.

Trained by Doug Watson for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he was ridden by Dane O'Neill and was winning on the all-weather for the first time.

"He is certainly tough and has really battled to get his head in front and then stuck his neck out to stay there," said O'Neill.

Watson said his charge would now be heading for a Dubai World Cup Carnival outing.

"That was a nice surprise because he is only tiny and had to give weight away to some real good horses but he is a genuine Group 1 performer,” he said. "I was not worried about the surface as he was third on it last season. He will go for Al Maktoum Challenge Round I now."

On an evening kindly sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, Dubai World Cup Carnival clues were provided by Surfer and Ganas, both impressive winners.

Trained by Satish Seemar, Surfer won a 1400m conditions race to follow up his previous 1600m maiden victory and delighted his jockey Richard Mullen who said: “That was very pleasing – not just the fact that he won but because he was a lot more relaxed this evening.

“He is really growing up and improving with experience and that maiden win helped his confidence no end. We will have to look at the Maktoum Challenge races now and he is going to be better over 1600m and probably 1800m.”

Trainer and jockey were completing a double having won the preceding 2200m handicap with Layali Al Andalus.

Ganas made all in a 1200m handicap, for the third time this season, for jockey Tadhg O’Shea and his trainer, Ernst Oertel who explained “He has just not stopped improving all season and we really think he will be better with a lead – it is just finding a horse quick enough to give him a lead.

“We will have to find a race for him at the Dubai World Cup Carnival now.”

Paul Hanagan continued his great start to the season and he too was in double form, combining twice with Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe. Hanagan was seen at his very best when weaving through the field on Maali to win the opening1950m maiden with the four-year-old finally opening his account at the 17th attempt.

Hanagan then had to wait until the last, a 1400m conditions race, to complete their doubles and he was sporting the famous blue and white silks of his main employer HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tamaathul.

A juvenile winner in the UK in 2009, Tamaathul had not won since buy was only caught close home on his previous start and Hanagan said: “He deserved that win after some very solid efforts in defeat and it is great to ride my first winner for the boss here at Meydan – having ridden my first winner at the track earlier.

“It has been a really good start to my UAE season and I am really looking forward to the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

MERIGO IN GOOD FORM AHEAD OF WETHERBY ON BOXING DAY

Andrew Parker's stable star Merigo is on course for a tilt at the £40,000 Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.45pm) at Wetherby on Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26, the first day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting.

The popular 11-year-old captured the Scottish Grand National for a second time in April when denying Auroras Encore in the shadow of the post. He also won the four-mile marathon at Ayr impressively in 2010 and filled the runner-up spot behind Beshabar in 2011.

He has been well beaten in two starts this year, coming home fifth at Kelso on his reappearance on November 10 and ninth at Haydock later the same month.

Parker said: "Merigo goes to Wetherby for the Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. He has been fine since his run at Haydock and you look at his form and you can see he always takes a long time to come to hand.

"We have to keep trying though and we will go to Wetherby and see how he gets on but, as we all know, he is always better after Christmas.

"He is a funny horse because some days it looks as if he doesn't like soft ground but then he goes and wins on heavy.

"The Scottish Grand National is the big target again with him because three of his last four wins have come over four miles. He is not quick and the race he won over three miles last year was more in his comfort zone than the Rowland Meyrick will be but we have to try because they don't make any money sitting at home in the stable.

"It's fairytale stuff for a Scottish-trained horse to go and win the Scottish Grand National twice and he doesn't owe anybody anything. He enjoys his racing and isn't one of these 11 or 12-year-olds running with cheekpieces or blinkers on because he still loves it."

The other entries include Helpston and Midnight Chase, who finished second and third respectively in the race 12 months ago. Local Bingley-based handler Sue Smith has two possible starters in Mr Moonshine and Auroras Encore, while Fergal O'Brien has made an entry for the progressive Alvarado, who was successful at Wetherby in the Bobby Renton Handicap Chase on October 17.

The Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, run over three miles and a furlong, was first staged in 1957 and boasts an excellent roll of honour with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive 'N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986) among the winners.

Yahoo, who chased home Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, scored in 1987, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Truckers Tavern, second to Best Mate in the 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup, took the spoils in 2004.

An exciting six-race card on Boxing Day gets underway at 12.35pm and also features the £10,000 Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Chase (2.55pm, 25 entries) over an extended two and a half miles.

The £16,000 Castleford Handicap Chase (2.20pm) over two miles is the highlight on Thursday, December 27, the second and final day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting. Gates open at 10am on both days.

There will be a real Christmas atmosphere on both days of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting at Wetherby with mulled wine and mince pies on offer for the early birds, as well as live music from LA Jazz Band and Endeavour Ceilidh Band.

Racegoers will also have the opportunity to interact with reindeer on both days courtesy of Rigmore Reindeer & Co, while, 12 months on from his 'official' retirement, Mister McGoldrick will return to his beloved Wetherby, where he won eight races during a glittering career, thanks to locally-based racehorse retraining centre New Beginnings.

GOING

The going at Wetherby remains HEAVY, SOFT IN PLACES

Temperatures of +6/7C are expected for the next seven days.

There was 36mm rain between Wednesday night and this (Friday) morning.

Today's forecast is for a dry day before further rain on Saturday, putting down up to 15mm. The forecast is for dry and sunny days thereafter.

Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at Wetherby, said today: "Understandably, following more heavy rainfall during the last 36 hours, many will be wondering what the prospects are for the Welcome to Yorkshire Christmas Meeting taking place on December 26 and 27.

"Following 36mm of rainfall between 6.00pm on Wednesday and the early hours of this morning, the back straight adjacent to York Road, has flooded as a result of the dykes and becks that carry our storm water from the racecourse to the River Nidd backing up, which is as a consequence of the current height of the river itself. Put simply, the water has nowhere to go.

"The current weather forecast is for a dry day today (Friday) before a further band of heavy rain arrives on Saturday. Thereafter, the forecast from Sunday onwards is for dry and sunny days, which will hopefully allow the river level to drop and the excess water to drain off the course and into the dykes.

"So far as racing on Wednesday and Thursday go, it will be a question of waiting to see if the water can subside quickly enough. At this stage, we do not envisage any decisions being taken on whether to abandon racing or not, until the morning of the race meeting on Wednesday, December 26.

"We will try everything in our powers to ensure that racing takes place on both days of the Welcome to Yorkshire Christmas Meeting and your patience and understanding at this time is much appreciated.

"A further update will be posted on the website on Sunday."

17 ENTERED FOR BETFAIR. DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS ROWLAND MEYRICK HANDICAP CHASE

- JEFFERSON HOPING TRIBULATION CAN MAKE THE LINE UP

A total of 17 entries have been received for the £40,000 Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.45pm), the highlight of the six-race programme at Wetherby on Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26, day one of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting.

Last year's renewal of the three mile, one furlong contest was landed by the Malcolm Jefferson-trained According To Pete and the handler, who is based in Malton, is hoping to be represented this time around by Cape Tribulation.

The eight-year-old has combined running both over hurdles and fences in the past 12 months and also raced on the Flat at York in October. He recorded a memorable double in the spring when successful in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival and in a valuable handicap hurdle at the John Smith's Grand National meeting at Aintree. Cape Tribulation's latest appearance came at Wetherby on November 3, when he was fifth to Tidal Bay in the Grade Two John Smith's West Yorkshire Hurdle.

Malcolm Jefferson said today: "All being well, Cape Tribulation goes for the Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

"His run on the Flat at York in October (when he was second in a two mile, two furlong handicap under top-weight) was alright but nothing went right for him at Wetherby.

"He is in good form now and we'll just see how things go for him. I just wish the weather would dry up a little bit! There has been so much rain about up here."

The other entries include Helpston and Midnight Chase, who finished second and third respectively in the race 12 months ago. Local Bingley-based handler Sue Smith has two possible starters in Mr Moonshine and Auroras Encore, while Fergal O'Brien has made an entry for the progressive Alvarado, who was successful at Wetherby in the Bobby Renton Handicap Chase on October 17.

The Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, run over three miles and a furlong, was first staged in 1957 and boasts an excellent roll of honour with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986) among the winners.

Yahoo, who chased home Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, scored in 1987, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Truckers Tavern, second to Best Mate in the 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup, took the spoils in 2004.

An exciting six-race card on Boxing Day gets underway at 12.35pm and also features the £10,000 Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Chase (2.55pm, 25 entries) over an extended two and a half miles.

The £16,000 Castleford Handicap Chase (2.20pm) over two miles is the highlight on Thursday, December 27 the second and final day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting. Gates open at 10am on both days.

There will be a real Christmas atmosphere on both days of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting with mulled wine and mince pies on offer for the early birds, as well as live music from  LA Jazz Band and Endeavour Ceilidh Band.

Racegoers will also have the opportunity to interact with reindeer on both days courtesy of Rigmore Reindeer & Co, while, 12 months on from his 'official' retirement, Mister McGoldrick will return to his beloved Wetherby, where he won eight races during a glittering career, thanks to locally-based racehorse retraining centre New Beginnings.

GOING

The going at Wetherby is currently: HEAVY, SOFT IN PLACES

CHELTENHAM ANNOUNCES DETAIL ON RECORD 2013 PRIZE MONEY FIGURES, INCLUDING THE FIRST £1m GOLD CUP DAY

Yesterday, Jockey Club Racecourses, owners of Cheltenham Racecourse and 14 other courses, announced a significant increase to prize money across the Group in 2013.

Today, Cheltenham releases some detail on its own greatly enhanced prize money offering for next year.

Total prize money for 2013 at Cheltenham will be a record £6.12m, a near 12 per cent increase from 2012, meaning that each race at the course will be worth an average of £57,000.

At The Festival, held in 2013 from Tuesday to Friday, March 12-15, prize money will be £3.82m, up by £445,000 from 2012, with the average Festival race now worth an astonishing £141,500.

Almost every race at The Festival is increasing in value, with the major Championship events all breaking new ground in prize money terms, as follows:

Race	2013 Value	2012 Value
Stan James Champion Hurdle	£400,000	£370,000
Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase	£350,000	£320,000
Ladbrokes World Hurdle	£275,000	£260,000
Ryanair Chase	£275,000	£260,000
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup	£550,000	£500,000

  

Total prize money on Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup day, Friday, March 15, will now exceed £1m for the first time.

Ian Renton, Regional Director for Cheltenham and the South West, said: "This is great news for us and for all those who support Jump racing at Cheltenham.

"The Jockey Club exists for the good of the sport and the prize money boost is further concrete evidence that, at Cheltenham and throughout the Group, we are putting everything we make back into the sport about which we all care so passionately.

"I would also like to thank our sponsors, who are contributing significant amounts to these excellent prize money totals."

Simon Claisse, Regional Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham, added: "I am delighted that we are able to reward further the investment made by owners in horses that compete at the pinnacle of Jump racing.

"Increased prize money is also a significant boost for the jockeys, the trainers and the stable staff involved with horses that run at Cheltenham."

Purebred Arabians Contest Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah

AF Alghabra and Kandar Du Falgas are set to clash once again in the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday (tomorrow).

Last year’s winner and runner-up make up a high-class Purebred Arabian field in Meydan’s first pattern race of the season, one of a quality six-race card sponsored by Al Tayer Motors.

Trained by Gill Duffield, AF Alghabra has been a real star for the stable and is seeking a ninth career win in the 1600m contest she won by almost two lengths 12 months ago under Tadhg O’Shea who is in the saddle again. The pair were third in the course and distance prep a fortnight ago.

“That was her first run of the season and she was entitled to need it,” explained the jockey. “She is seven now and improved from her first run to win this last year and hopefully she can go close this year but it looks a strong renewal.”

Her old rival Kandar Du Falgas was fifth in that prep race but is the choice of Paul Hanagan from two runners owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Doug Watson. The other, Quite A Show, is having his third start this season and has a Group 1 penalty to overcome.

“Both mine are working well enough but it looks a good race and that penalty makes it tricky for Quite A Show so Paul looks on our best hope. He was perhaps a bit disappointing in the prep but he was giving weight away and we have freshened him up. This has been the target and he owes us nothing having been great for the yard over the years.”

Trainer Majed Al Jahouri dominated that prep, saddling Dariya to win from stable companion Thakif with a further stablemate, Rakha in fourth. Ahmed Ajtebi rode the winner and maintains the partnership with Al Jahouri also saddling Naseem, while multiple Group 1 winner Sahib Du Clos, trained by Saifaldin Deeb, is another to carry a penalty.

There is plenty of exciting Thoroughbred action on the card as well with Surfer bidding to go one place better in a 1400m conditions race in which he was second last year. Richard Mullen takes the ride for his main employer, Satish Seemar and they arrive here having won a 1600m course maiden last time.

“He seems to have improved with that maiden win under his belt and this looks an ideal opportunity to get one more race into him before the Dubai World Cup Carnival,” said Mullen.

Entifaadha, having his first start for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, could be the main danger but has to give weight to all his 11 rivals.

Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s 2010 Group 1 Dubai Duty Free winner Al Shemali heads the weights in a 2200m handicap in which the opposition are headed by stable companion Rochdale, the mount of stable jockey Royston Ffrench.

The 1200m course and distance record holder, Alo Pura faces seven rivals in a quality sprint handicap in which the Ernst Oertel-trained Ganas will seek a third course and distance win for the season. O’Shea said: “This is by far his toughest test yet – off a career high mark against better horses – but he deserves his place in this company and we will find out how good he is.”