Just under three weeks until the beginning of the  Festival and the latest acceptors for the Grade One novice events and the National Hunt Chase have been revealed.

The traditionalo curtain raiser is the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where 66 remain, headed by last years Champion Bumper winner Dunguib. Dunguib looks like going off a very short priced favourite with his main rivals looking to be Rite Of Passage, Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here.

Although Rite Of Passage, third to Dunguib last year, has the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday as his main target and he is one of 69 acceptors for that event.

The championship contest for four-year-old hurdlers is the JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday,
March 19, for which 51 contenders go forward. With Irish raiders  Alaivan and Carlito Brigante the top contenders.

Also taking place on Friday is the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Prime contenders amongst the 61 acceptors for this event are Najafand Tell Massini, twice a winner at Cheltenham already this season.

In the chase division 36 remain in the The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy on the Tuesday with the Feltham Chase winner Long Run potentially facing the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle scorer Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe.

However Long Run’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, has made no secret that the five-year-old’s much more likely target is the RSA Chase on Wednesday where a total of 34 horses remain engaged.

Also taking place on Wednesday is the National Hunt Chase, for which there are 52 horses going forward.

Latest Cheltenham Entries

A week of free racing is on the cards at the end of April. Part of the Racing For Change initiative eight courses will be offering free admission over six days.

The courses are spread from Sedgefield in the north east to Goodwood In the south east and includes three evening meetings.

The details are:-

Monday, 26th April – Towcester and Wolverhampton
Tuesday, 27th April – Sedgefield (evening)
Wednesday, 28th April – Ascot* and Kempton (evening)
Thursday, 29th April – Huntingdon (evening)
Friday, 30th April – Doncaster
Saturday 1st May - Goodwood*

* Ascot - Grandstand enclosure only, Goodwood - Gordon and Lennox enclosures only   

12-year-old Monet's Garden rolled back the years to take the Betfair Ascot Chase for a second time.

The popular grey made all under Barry Geraghty, so comfortable was his lead on the run-in that he was eased allowing Albertas Run to close to within a length and a half.

A jubilant Geraghty said, "I'd say he's one of the best jumpers ever - he's so deadly over fences.

"I was hoping he'd be in the same shape as in the Old Roan Chase and he was."

Binocular is to miss the Cheltenham festival after picking up a muscle injury.

The one time favourite for the Champion Hurdle had a lacklustre start to the season before winning a minor contest at Sandown earlier this month.

It is expected he will be out for the remainder of the season.

Jockey Ronan Lawlor has been killed in an accident whilst riding out for trainer Pat Fahy on Tuesday morning.

The 21 year old, who was attached to David Watchman’s stable last season, was killed when his horse bolted and he was thrown into a post and rail fence.

John Smith’s and Aintree have today announced their shortlist of 10 ‘Legends’ aiming to be inducted into the inaugural John Smith’s Grand National Legends. This new initiative celebrates the greats from Grand National history and the five Legends selected in 2010 will be invited to the first awards ceremony at Aintree racecourse on Grand National Day – Saturday, April 10.

Julian Thick, Managing Director at Aintree, commented:  “The John Smith’s Grand National is a race steeped in history and has produced many stories and legends down the years. We want to give people the chance to reflect and celebrate this, and vote for who those who they think should be further immortalised in Aintree history.”  

The shortlist was compiled by a selection panel of racing experts who were asked to consider the star performers – equine and human – from the 1830s through to the present day.

The contenders are as follows:

Ginger McCain + Red Rum
Jenny Pitman
Vincent O’Brien
John Buckingham + Foinavon
Bob Champion + Aldaniti
Sir Peter O’Sullevan
Fred Rimell
Fred Winter
Manifesto
Tommy Carberry

Grand National winning jockey, Mick Fitzgerald, was part of the selection committee: "I think the Grand National Legends is a fantastic idea from John Smith's and Aintree. Winning the National was one of the very best moments of my career and the race seems to throw up interesting stories almost every year. Being involved with the selection panel and discussing some of the legendary names was great fun and I'm keen to see how the public now vote!"

Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere head the handicap on 11st 10lb in the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National following Tuesday’s unveiling of the weights.

The John Smith’s Grand National, which will have a record £925,000 in prize money when run on Saturday, April 10, at Aintree is the only race in which the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping Phil Smith can use his discretion to determine the weight each horse will carry.

The weights were announced in London at the Official Launch of the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National attended by connections of many of the leading contenders and such is the quality of this year’s entry that only 14 of the 111 remaining entries are not currently in the handicap.

Antepost favourite Tricky Trickster, winner of Saturday’s AON Chase at Newbury, has been allotted 11st 4lb, the same weight as the Newbury runner-up Niche Market, winner of last season’s Irish Grand National.

There are three former John Smith’s Grand National winners in the 2010 race of whom Mon Mome, who sprang a 100/1 shock last year, is the highest-weighted on 11st 7lb. He carried 11st to victory in the 2009 running, from which the first six home are all entered again.

Comply Or Die, who won the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National off 10st 9lb, has been allotted 11st 5lb this year, 1lb less than he carried when finishing second to Mon Mome last season. Silver Birch, who carried 10st 6lb to victory in 2007, has been given 10st 5lb this year.

Irish-trained raiders have enjoyed a great recent run in the John Smith’s Grand National, winning six of the last 11 renewals, and there are 38 entries bidding to add to that record this season.

Silver Birch’s trainer Gordon Elliott has aimed Backstage at the Aintree showpiece all season and the eight-year-old has been allotted 11st. Jimmy Mangan, successful in the 2003 John Smith’s Grand National with Monty’s Pass, is represented by Thyestes Handicap Chase winner Whinstone Boy (10st 4lb) and the 11-year-old Conna Castle (10st 9lb).

The 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition, trained by Mouse Morris for Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, landed a Grade Two success over hurdles at Navan on Sunday and has been given 11st 1lb.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has five entries as he bids to win the John Smith’s Grand National for a first time. As well as Tricky Trickster, they include Big Fella Thanks (10st 12lb), who finished sixth under 11st 1lb last year, and recent Grade Two Argento Chase winner Taranis (11st 9lb).

Other leading contenders include Welsh National winner Dream Alliance (11st 3lb), the Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi (11st 6lb) and Possol (11st 3lb), who has been kept over hurdles so far this season.

Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, commented: “It is unprecedented to have 87 per cent of the field in the handicap for the John Smith’s Grand National and it is fantastic that such a high-class field will line up on Saturday, April 10, in what will be the most valuable Jump race ever run in Britain with £925,000 in prize money.”

Full weights click here

Dick Francis, jockey turned best selling author, has died at his home in the Cayman Islands, aged 89.

Although a good jockey he is probably best remembered for the race he never won, when he was aboard the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch who, having the race at his mercy, spread-eagled 50 yards from the line. The reason for the mishap being more of a mystery than any of his 42 thrillers.

His wife of 53 years, Mary, died in 2000. He is survived by his two sons Felix and Merrick.

There will be a private funeral at his home in Grand Cayman, followed by a memorial service in London.

Jockey Dane O’Neill has been handed  a 10 day ban by the BHA after failing a breath test for the second time in 24 months.

The latest infringement occurred at Redcar last October.  Both failed tests were at the lower level of the alcohol limits for jockeys.

Dubbed Super Saturday there were several top Festival contenders on display at Newbury and Warwick.

First up was Diamond Harry who put up an average, rather than spectacular, display of jumping in claiming the toteplacepot Novices’ Chase at Newbury. He will need to improve on his jumping if he is to win the RSA Chase at the Festival.

Next up was Long Run at in the totesport.com Kingmaker Chase at Warwick. Like Diamond Harry the jumping has scope for some improvement but he was possibly distracted by the front running King Edmund’s propensity to jump right. Connections are undecided if he will run in the RSA Chase or The Arkle with ground conditions being the deciding factor.

The Aon Chase at Newbury was the next big contest with Denman being ridden by AP McCoy for the first time (a controversial decision in some quarters). For most of the contest “The Tank” jumped fluently. He made a uncharacteristic blunder four out but worse was to come three out when he made another blunder, this time unshipping McCoy.

To rub salt into McCoy’s wounds and to fan the flames of discussion Sam Thomas, who has previously ridden Denman,  stayed on Winterwood at Warwick just 10 minutes later. The Winterwood blunder was far worse than Denman’s and not only did the horse stay on his feet but Thomas not only kept the partnership in tact but rallied the horse to grab victory from a seemingly impossible situation.

Madison Du Berlais has been given top weight of 11st 12lb for the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on February 27th .

Paul Nicholls' The Tother One and last year's winner Nacarat are next on the list in receipt of 4lb from the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup winner.

Philip Hobbs' veteran Monkerhostin (11st 6lb), Charlie Mann's Grade One winner Air Force One (11st 3lb) and Henry Daly's Possol (11st 1lb) are others towards the head of the weights.

Charlie Longsdon may run his Grand National contender Palypso De Creek (10st 3lb), with the Chipping Norton trainer is eyeing either the Kempton event or the totesport Eider Chase at Newcastle on Saturday week.

In the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown there was a mini-shock as the Paul Nolan trained Joncol battled past Cooldine in the final  100 yards of the contest.

Schindlers Hunt was a close third and may well have won had he not made a mistake at the last.

Trainer Nicky Henderson had mixed fortunes with his Cheltenham contenders at Sandown on Saturday.

First up was Binocular who hardly broke sweat in winning the opening contest, although AP McCoy warned the horse is still not back to his very best.

Recent import, According, by contrast was a major disappointment finishing a tailed off last after looking the likely winner down the back straight.

Meanwhile Punchestowns gave his supporters a major fright, nearly coming down half way, but he recovered and came home with a comfortable victory.

Meanwhile Kalahari King was shortened for the Champion Chase after defying top weight in the Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster.

The last three winners, Mon Mome (2009), Comply Or Die (2008) and Siver Birch (2007) of the John Smith’s Grand National are amongst the 112 entries for the 2010 renewal on 10th April.

Last years winning trainer Venetia Williams has also entered  Flintoff, part-owned by cricketer Andrew Flintoff and Officier De Reserve.

Comply Or Die, runner-up last year is one of nine entries for trainer David Pipe. Irish handler Gordon Elliott has entered the 2007 winner Silver Birch. Elliott has also entered Backstage, last seen winning at Ffos Las in August.
 
My Will was third in 2009 for trainer Paul Nicholls and could again take his chance, meaning that, with Cerium and Big Fella Thanks also engaged, the first six home from that renewal have all been entered once again.

The British champion trainer is yet to train a national winner and has entered five, including Grade One winner Taranis, victorious in the Grade Two Argento Chase at Cheltenham last Saturday. Also entered is the current 16/1 ante-post favourite Tricky Trickster, a winner over four miles at the Cheltenham Festival last season, Nozic and Big Fella Thanks.

The Pipe-trained contingent also includes the in-form veteran Our Vic, successful from the Charlie Longsdon-trained Palypso De Creek in the Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock last month. Pipe has also entered last season’s Totesport Bowl winner Madison Du Berlais and Grade Two-winning novice Seven Is My Number.

With two victories in the race (1998 Earth Summit, 2002 Bindaree), Nigel Twiston-Davies is the most successful current trainer. He has seven entries including last season’s Scottish Grand National victor Hello Bud, 2009 John Smith’s Topham Chase winner Irish Raptor, Ollie Magern and Rehearsal Chase hero Beat The Boys.

Phil Smith, the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, commented: “There is fantastic strength in depth to the entries for the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National.

“There are more horses rated 140 or above among the entries in this year’s race than in the previous 11 years that I have handicapped the contest.”

Julian Thick, Managing Director at Aintree, said: “The release of the John Smith’s Grand National entries is always excitedly awaited and it is great to see that this year we have another entry packed with quality.

“It is a measure of the race’s health and stature as the world’s most famous steeplechase that we have so many Grade One winners in there including a Cheltenham Gold Cup victor.

“I think I speak for many people when I say that it is particularly thrilling to see the past three John Smith’s Grand National winners, Mon Mome, Comply Or Die and Silver Birch among the 112 entries. The public has such affection for a proper ‘Grand National’ horse and these returning heroes add an extra buzz to what is always a special occasion.

“It will be interesting to see how Phil Smith frames the weights and we  now look forward to the official unveiling of them at the John Smith’s Grand National Launch on Tuesday, February 16.”

There is a maximum field of 40 for the John Smith’s Grand National.