Racing news, by Chris Cook
For once, I can be completely confident of tipping no losers in this space. Every scrap of racing scheduled to take place today in Britain and Ireland has been abandoned and weekend gamblers will have to look elsewhere for a bit of action, like trying to pick the correct score in Blackburn v Bolton.
Surprisingly, the all-weather card at Southwell was the first to be called off, at 9am. The track is apparently fine but there is four inches of snow on the roads around the Nottinghamshire course and it hardly seems safe to invite people to tackle that.
Sedgefield's jumps course was found to be frozen this morning and officials decided not to wait to see if conditions improved. That was the right call - it is now snowing there.
The day's most interesing card, at Naas, which featured several horses with Cheltenham Festival pretensions, has been lost to a snow-covered track.
Southwell is due to race again on Tuesday, but there must be considerable doubt about their chances. An inspection has been announced for noon on Monday, when it will presumably be the nearby roads that will be inspected, rather than the Fibresand circuit.
Tomorrow's all-weather cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton are not currently thought to be under threat. Both Carlisle and Market Rasen, which are due to stage jump racing, are frozen in places. Inspections have been set for 3pm today at Rasen and 8am tomorrow at Carlisle.
Punchestowns straight to Festival
12.25pm Tom Peacock writes: Nicky Henderson has ruled out another run for Punchestowns before the Cheltenham Festival.
Although the gelding is the ante-post favourite for the RSA Chase, he has only raced twice over fences. He missed a potential engagement in yesterday's Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot, won by stablemate Burton Port, and will not have another outing despite some of Henderson's other Festival fancies going to Kempton next weekend.
"Punchestowns and Long Run are now finished," said the trainer. "We'll run some at Kempton next weekend and that will be the end of the Cheltenham horses." PA
Voler La Vedette 'back on track'
12.55pm Keith Hamer writes: Colm Murphy would consider switching Voler La Vedette to the Champion Hurdle from the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle only if some of the leading Champion Hurdle fancies were withdrawn.
The Co Wexford trainer hopes the six-year-old mare gains crucial experience for the Champion Hurdle next season. "We left her in at the forfeit stage for the Champion Hurdle, but it's more than likely she'll go for the mares race," Murphy told At The Races.
"She's 20-1 for the Champion and she's second favourite for the mares' race. If some of the short-priced runners in the race came out we would have to consider it. We've left that option there, but she'll more than likely go for the mares' race.
"She's only a six-year-old mare, she needs the experience and there's always the Champion Hurdle next year. She did have a little setback as well, so it's not ideal going for a championship race like the Champion Hurdle, but she does seem back on track." PA
Tony McCoy for Big Zeb?
1.05pm Keith Hamer writes: Colm Murphy aims to have a jockey confirmed in the next week for Big Zeb in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Barry Geraghty has recently been Big Zeb's regular partner, but it is possible he might be claimed by Nicky Henderson to ride Petit Robin in the two-mile feature on 17 March.
"I don't know what the story is with Barry at the moment. I believe Petit Robin is going to run, so we don't know at the moment," Murphy told At The Races. "I haven't even thought about anybody else yet. We'd be hoping it's a hurdle we don't have to jump, but it is something we'll have to get sorted out in the next week or so.
"From what I believe, Tony McCoy hasn't got a ride. There won't be any shortage of top-class jockeys wanting to ride him."
The trainer added: "We are a lot wiser going this year than we were last year - we are not going there to make up the numbers. I think we'd have a realistic chance in it and have a big shout." Big Zeb, who fell four out last March before running Master Minded to a head at Punchestown, is 8-1 to win the Champion Chase. PA
Silver's wide horizons
2.05pm Keith Hamer writes: Lucinda Russell may consider one of three Nationals for Silver By Nature's next race following his victory in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock.
Runner-up in the Welsh National on his previous start, the grey could now go for either the Midlands National at Uttoxeter, the Irish National at Fairyhouse or the Scottish National at Ayr.
"It was a fantastic run on Saturday. He's absolutely fine, he only lost a couple of kilos during the race and he's been out in the field. He's in great form," said the Kinross trainer.
"Geoff (Brown, owner) is very keen to run him in the Scottish National. We will have to see if the ground is soft enough for him. We'll also have a look at the Midlands National and maybe the Irish. We've got plenty of time to think about it." PA
Arctic Rasen abandoned
Tomorrow's National Hunt fixture at Market Rasen has been abandoned due to frost and snow. Although a slight thaw late this morning offered a degree of optimism, the situation was considered untenable following a mid-afternoon inspection.
The clerk of the course, Sulekha Varma, reported: "It stopped snowing at around 11.30am and it began to start thawing.
We thought we might get away with it, but the course is still frozen so we've had to abandon." PA
Trio backed ahead of Racing Post Chase
5pm: Totesport report that a few horses have been popular for the Racing Post Chase at Kempton next weekend. Kilcrea Castle is 8-1 (from 10-1), Oedipe is 11-1 (from 14-1), whilst Madison du Berlais has been cut to 14-1 (from 20-1).
Racing Post Chase (totesport ante-post odds): 9-2 Nacarat, 7 Fistral Beach, 8 Kilcrea Castle, 9 Possol, 11 Oedipe, 12 Big Fella Thanks, Miss Mitch, 14 Madison du Berlais, Atouchbetweencara, The Tother One, Trabolgan, 16 Kicks For Free, Piraya, 20 and upwards others.
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