The cold snap set in during the middle of last week and had already claimed a number of meetings, with snow that fell during Saturday worsening matters.

Everyone involved with the sport will be praying for a break in the weather ahead of Newbury’s ‘Super Saturday’ meeting, which is set to showcase the talents of the likes of Long Run and Sprinter Sacre.

Newbury clerk of the course Richard Osgood said: “There is an east-west divide in the forecast but I don’t think it will be as cold as it was last week. But that changes from day to day.”

With forecasts suggesting there are more frosty nights in store, Monday’s fixture at Ayr could prove to be the final jumps card to be run for a few days.

All-weather fare at Southwell and Wolverhampton makes up Tuesday’s program after both Market Rasen and Sedgefield were abandoned early.

Frost and snow at Market Rasen left officials with little option but to draw stumps.

Pip Kirkby, managing director at the track, said: “We are under snow, the track is frozen underneath and there is no sign of improvement.”

Lingfield’s meeting on Wednesday has already fallen by the wayside, with clerk of the course Neil Mackenzie Ross not expecting enough improvement between now and then.

“The course is still under snow and it is frozen underneath,” he said on Monday.

“Temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing again tonight, with an even harsher frost coming Tuesday night, with temperatures possibly getting down to minus 7C.

“It will barely get above freezing on Wednesday, so we have no chance of racing and we’ve made an early decision.”

PA AAP TURF

Nicky Henderson’s star stayer looked to have the world at his feet when landing the blue riband of National Hunt racing last spring, but has had to make do with minor honours behind the resurgent Kauto Star at his two appearances this season.

With Kauto Star now being readied for yet another crack at the Gold Cup, his trainer Paul Nicholls has three potential challengers for Long Run this weekend in the race now named after his retired Gold Cup winner, Denman.

What A Friend, who failed to fire at his only start this season in a hurdle race at Wetherby in October, the enigmatic Tidal Bay who ran well in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham last time and Aiteen Thirtythree who has disappointed at his last two appearances.

“What A Friend has been trained for two races this year – the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup. I expect Daryl (Jacob) to ride him in the Gold Cup,” Nicholls said.

“He came back really sick from Wetherby but has run well at Newbury before.

“Aiteen Thirtythree will definitely run as Paul (Barber, Denman’s owner) wants a runner.

“He has been disappointing and not finishing his races off and will run with a tongue-tie and crossed noseband.

“Tidal Bay ran a really good race in the Argento Chase and was going to go straight for the Gold Cup and then on to Aintree but he came out very fresh and well. We stuck him in the Denman Chase and we’ll see what’s in it. He might well run.”

Henderson could also be represented by Burton Port, not seen in competitive action in well over a year.

Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers, recent Cheltenham scorer The Giant Bolster, Halley, Medermit, Little Josh and Mr Moonshine complete the entries.

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The nine-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since going down fighting in last season’s RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but Gordon Elliott’s stable star is now ready for a racecourse return.

The County Meath handler still harbours Cheltenham Gold Cup ambitions with the Grade One-winning chaser and is excited about his return.

“We’ll give him a little bit of work and see whether we go for the Hennessy or go to Gowran Park, but we’re edging towards the Hennessy. He’s in good form and we’re very happy with him,” Elliott told At The Races.

“We had him in Fairyhouse in a schooling race two weeks ago and he went very well.

“At home he’s one of the best we have. He’s exciting and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the track.”

Another with Cheltenham on his radar is Mount Benbulben, who returned home sore after being beaten by Boston Bob at Navan in December.

“He’s going to go straight to the Albert Bartlett,” Elliott added.

“He pulled a muscle in Navan and he was lame afterwards, but he’s fine now and is jumping out of his skin.

“He’s a proper horse and he won’t be too far away (in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle).”

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Walters, the owner of Ffos Las racecourse, had hoped to see his star performer defend his crown in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at the track on Saturday, but the meeting fell victim to the freezing temperatures.

With the race looking unlikely to be rescheduled, Walters believes opportunities to run the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding between now and the Festival are few and far between.

“It was disappointing the meeting had to be abandoned the other day. The reason we decided to have the Welsh Champion Hurdle in February was because it was a good stepping stone to Cheltenham,” Walters said.

“Our next Saturday meeting is on March 17, which is the same week as the Festival, so it won’t work out the way we wanted.

“I’ve spoken to Nicky about where we could run Oscar Whisky. There is the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell (February 26), but that is probably too close to Cheltenham.

“I think there’s every chance he’ll go straight to Cheltenham now and run in the three-mile (4800m) race.”

Oscar Whisky also has a Champion Hurdle entry, a race in which he finished third last year, but he looks set to tackle three-time World Hurdle winner Big Buck’s on his first attempt at three miles.

While full of respect for the favourite, Walters hopes Oscar Whisky might give him more to think about than anything he has faced so far this season.

“Big Buck’s is a great horse, but he hasn’t had that many really good horses run against him,” Walters said.

“It would be nice to win, but we know it’s a difficult task and as we know with horses, anything can happen in the next few weeks.

“I think Oscar Whisky will stay three miles and I’m looking forward to it.”

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The mare won a 1600m race at the Waitangi Day public holiday meeting at Tauherenikau to get her career back on track.

Scarlett Lady was one of the leading spring Cups contenders but her mission ended when she had to have a bone chip removed from a leg, an injury believed to have happened in the Underwood Stakes in October.

Her Sydney owner Max Whitby was thrilled with her return and said he and co-trainer Graeme Rogerson had mapped out Group One missions for last year’s Queensland Oaks winner.

“It’s wonderful. I’m thrilled she’s back,” Whitby said.

“There’s a Group One race in New Zealand for her early next month and then the plan is to bring her to Sydney for the Ranvet and the BMW and then take her to Singapore for the Singapore Airlines International Cup in May.”

Whitby said both Rogerson and jockey James McDonald were rapt with her performance.

“James said she jumped better than she ever has which is an important thing for her,” he said.

“He said she was as good as ever.

“After Singapore she will have a break and then we’ll try to get her back to do all the things we wanted to do in the spring.”

A passionate owner and racegoer, Whitby was appointed to the board of the newly formed Australian Turf Club last year.

He and fellow director Bill Sweeney were due to finish their 12 month terms this week but Whitby said the pair would stay on for the time being as non voting board members pending a government decision on an extension of their directorships.

AAP TURF

The 2010 Champion Hurdle winner had been set to take in the Contenders Hurdle as part of his preparation for next month’s Cheltenham Festival, a Listed prize he had secured for the past two seasons.

But with the meeting beaten by Britain’s cold snap, Nicky Henderson will have to find his classy hurdler an alternative lead-up race in the next week or two.

The Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park in Ireland, the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso are all potential destinations.

“As it stands at the moment, I don’t know where he’ll run,” owner JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said.

“We’re going to have to wait and see what happens with the weather. We have a few options, but we can’t say for definite which way he’s going yet.”

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The Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained three-year-old had shown good form in England as a juvenile winning the Cherry Hinton at Newmarket, and was sent off the 1-2 favourite to follow up her victory in the trial for this race last month.

Racing over a mile (1600m) for the first time on Friday, she was settled in last place by Frankie Dettori before he eased her out to challenge inside the final two furlongs (400m).

Without being asked a serious question the daughter of Bernardini sprinted clear, leaving her stable companion Pimpernel to chase her home but well adrift.

Stan James firmed her to 12-1 from 25-1 for the English 1000 Guineas.

“She is a very nice filly with a touch of class and that was a very good performance,” Godolphin head Sheikh Mohammed said.

“We have lots of options with her now with the UAE Oaks under definite consideration and perhaps then the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot or maybe the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.”

Dettori and Al Zarooni also teamed up with German St Leger winner Fox Hunt, formerly with Mark Johnston, in the one-mile-six (2800m) handicap on turf.

“That is my first time on the horse and he has done it well,” Dettori said.

“He had some great form last year and hopefully has more to offer in 2012.”

David Barron’s consistent Hitchens arrived late on the scene to win the Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint under Silvestre de Sousa.

Hitchens was only two lengths behind Dream Ahead when third in the July Cup and the hope is he runs on World Cup Night.

“If every racehorse we had was like him the job would be easy,” Barron said.

“He’ll stay over. There’s another Group Three here at the beginning of March that would have to be on the cards.

“If we’re lucky enough to be in one piece by the end of March we’d hope to be back here on the big day.”

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The Kauto Star bar will be in the Clubhouse while discussions are continuing about a statue to be commissioned following the horse’s eventual retirement.

Kauto Star’s owner Clive Smith will conduct the official opening of the bar next month with memorabilia, including a set of his racing colours in glass and a racing plate, on display.

“Kauto Star has captured the Kempton public’s imagination and it will be wonderful for visitors to be able to relax in the Kauto Star Bar where so many great memories are recorded in words and pictures,” Smith said.

The Kauto Star Bar – which was formerly the Champagne & Seafood Bar – is being given a makeover and will be opened on February 25.

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Formerly trained by Mark Johnston, Fox Hunt was one of two runners for the master horseman in last year’s race, with the Scot also having Irish St Leger joint winner Jukebox Jury in the race.

However, the son of Dubawi was arguably the hard luck story of the race, making up a heap of late ground to finish seventh, less than two and a half lengths from Dunaden.

Now trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, his rivals tonight include Dee Stakes winner and Melbourne Cup prospect Glen’s Diamond, one time Goodwood Cup runner up Electrolyser and the evergreen Nanton.

Fox Hunt has to carry 60kg but has the services of champion jockey Frankie Dettori.

The race, the last of six on the card, is to be run at 1am AEST.

Written by Andrew Hawkins

The Peter Snowden-trained Sepoy is a confirmed runner in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen (1200m) on the Tapeta all weather surface, with the three time Group 1 winner set to run in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 25 in what will be his Australian swansong.

Peter Moody has also excited global race fans by nominating champion mare Black Caviar, who last Friday won her 17th race from 17 starts, for the Golden Shaheen.

She was considered an unlikely runner until Friday, when Moody said there was a 50/50 chance the mare would head to Dubai, bypassing other Australian races.

The possibility of a clash with Golden Slipper winner Sepoy has intrigued and excited the Dubai Racing Club.

The club’s international manager Martin Talty said he would be “delighted to see her.”

“This is the first time trainer Peter Moody has entered her outside Australia,” he said.

“What racecourse wouldn’t want Black Caviar?”

“Everyone in Australia was desperately looking forward to her taking on Sepoy and if she runs in the Golden Shaheen then she would.”

Among other Australian nominees for the Golden Shaheen are Winterbottom Stakes winner Ortensia, Salinger Stakes winner Sister Madly and the Tony Gollan-trained pair Spirit of Boom and Temple of Boom.

Gollan said last week that neither of his gallopers are likely to make the trip.

All bar Sepoy are also entered for the Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) on turf, which has been upgraded to Group 1 status for the first time this year.

Snowden is set to have a big night with his Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet a confirmed runner in the Group 2 UAE Derby (1900m).

The only Derby worldwide to feature horses bred in both the northern and southern hemispheres, the race is run on the Tapeta track and has been dominated by Godolphin horses in recent times.

Helmet will be Australia’s first representative in the race, and will come at his third run this preparation.

He will have two runs at Flemington – in the Group 2 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on February 18 and the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 3 – prior to the UAE Derby.

Both Sepoy and Helmet will continue their racing careers in Europe under the Godolphin banner following their appearances in Dubai.

A number of gallopers formerly trained by Snowden have been entered for Godolphin across the card, including Desuetude, Dysphonia, Kidnapped, Scarf and Soul.

American import Unusual Suspect will represent Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent with the eight year old set to run in a number of races over the carnival.

He has been nominated for the Group 1 Sheema Classic (2410m) on turf as a possible finale.

Australia has not had a good record at the Dubai World Cup meeting, with Elvstroem our only victor when he won the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free (1777m) at the old Nad Al Sheba course in 2005.

Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden is also among a large number of entries for the prestigious meeting, as is dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, who may run in the feature race on the card.

Written by Andrew Hawkins