Post Cheltenham News Wrap

Well post-Cheltenham I suppose we can't be at all surprised but this week has been fairly quiet on the horse racing front, with the majority of the news of interest revolving around horses who have run at Cheltenham and where they might go next, with Aintree and Punchestown the focus of attention for the National Hunt fans. I've got a round up of some possible running plans for us to consider

Aintree

• Whisper, a creditable 5th in the World Hurdle, will go for the Liverpool Hurdle at the meeting where owner Dai Walters thinks the benefit of the Cheltenham run plus the flatter track at Aintree will lead to Whisper going close in the race he won last year.
• World Hurdle winner Cole Harden may also be seen at Aintree, with Warren Greatrex reporting his charge to have come out of Cheltenham bouncing. Apparently he has taken the race amazingly and will, all being well, go to Aintree for the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle.
• Jockey Jason Maguire however is struggling to be fit for the Merseyside spectacular after a heavy fall at Catterick last month. A Grand National winning jockey Jason certainly deserved a bit of luck.
• The Foxhunters Chase at Aintree is the target for Big Fella Thanks, a horse who goes well round the track having finished a best placed 4th in the big race in 2010 in addition to numerous other good runs at the track.
• Carlingford Lough, joint top weight for the Grand National, will miss the race altogether despite running with credit in the Gold Cup on ground that was a touch too soft for his liking.
• One horse who is bang on track for the big one though is Saint Are who proved his aptitude for the fences with a 9th place finish in the race in 2013 and a 3rd in the Becher Chase in December. Tom George, his trainer, reports him absolutely spot on at the moment.

Has winning the 2014 Grand National left it's mark on Pineau Du Re?

• A trainer who recognises the need for serious improvement is the good Doctor Richard Newland. His charge, former winner Pineau De Re (2014), has run poorly on all of his starts this season and while reporting Pineau to be on track the Dr does realise he has to 'raise his game' come April if he is to retain his crown. 
• God's Own, who ran a blinder to finish 2nd to Un De Sceaux in the Arkle, could run at Aintree over 2 or 2.5 miles but that will be ground dependent as God's Own really needs good ground to be seen at his best. Otherwise he may head to Punchestown or Fairyhouse if the ground is more suitable there.
• Finally Ruby Walsh reports Vautour to be the most likely of Willie Mullin's Cheltenham stars to be Aintree bound as he needs a 2 1/2 mile race to be seen at his best. However the Melling Chase, a Grade 1 open to older horses, was all but ruled out as Vautour will be sticking to Novice company.

Punchestown and Fairyhouse

• Punchestown race course may be the lucky track that next gets to host the talented trio of Un De Sceaux, Douvan and Faugheen according to the man who will get to ride them, Ruby Walsh.

Will Faugheen be turning up at Punchestown?

• Fairyhouse on the other had must have been pleased to see Vautour and Don Poli in the entries for the Ryanair Gold Cup. 

Other News

A quick summary of the other headlines making our racing press this week.

• Glen's Melody, the brave winner (and possibly slightly fortunate) of the Mares hurdle at Cheltenham this year is to be retired; talk about going out on a high!
• Hurricane Fly may step up to 3 miles for the French Champion Hurdle after a highly creditable 3rd place in the Champion Hurdle this year. I for one would love to see this and hope Willie does go ahead with his plan.
•  Danny Cook, currently enjoying his most prolific season to date, will serve a 6 month ban after testing positive for Cocaine. Young Cook admits his 'catastrophic error of judgement' and has apologised profusely, taking his ban on the chin.

Danny Cook set for a spell on the sidelines

• Irish Grand National weights were released this week. Topped by Don Cossack, an unlucky 3rd at Cheltenham in the Ryanair, the market is headed by Grand Gesture and Gallant Oscar.If either of those two run well it would he a huge pointer to the chances of The Druids Nephew who beat them both easily at the Cheltenham Festival in the opening day 3 mile handicap chase.