And he were are . . . http://www1.skysports.com/horse-rac...tter&utm_term=Horseracing&utm_content=Betting Not quite a declaration of intent but the prospect is back on!!
Latest runners after scratching deadline: THE sportingbet.com QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE Class 1, Grade 1, 2m, £320,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.20pm, Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 7 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horseâs racecourse performances up to and including March 7 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 10, entries revealed January 12 (19 entries), scratchings deadline February 14 (14 remain), £16,000 supplementary entry & six-day confirmation stage March 8. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 13. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 122-1112 BIG ZEB (IRE) 11 Pat Redmond Colm Murphy IRE 2143111 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 11121-12 FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 9 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson 520-1F1F GAUVAIN (GER) 10 Jared Sullivan & Simon Brown Nick Williams 1/41U-41 HOLD FAST (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 21/460-05 I'M SO LUCKY 10 Sheila Brookhouse David Pipe 5331442 I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE) 10 Jo Tracey David Pipe 1103-12 KAUTO STONE (FR) 6 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 31-4435 NACARAT (FR) 11 Simon Clarke Tom George 120-112 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 2113-12 REALT DUBH (IRE) 8 Derek Sharkey Noel Meade IRE 31-21211 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 10 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE 53-12241 SOMERSBY (IRE) 8 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight 21-16526 WISHFULL THINKING 9 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs 14 entries remain after February 14 scratchings deadline 4 Irish-trained THE FOLLOWING 5 ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: AL FEROF (FR), DAN BREEN (IRE), FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE), GHIZAO (GER), OISEAU DE NUIT (FR)
From Racing Post re ODN: http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival-quito-de-la-roque-taken-out-of-gold-cup/987774/
hmm I'm tempted by kauto stone you know. his run behind sizing europe looks pretty good now, and he hasn't had many goes at the top level yet. will seek out the nrnb.
Sounds like Kauto Stone will run in the Champion Chase rather than the Ryanair. He did travel very powerfully in the Ascot Chase before falling in a heap so it would seem the logical choice, especially with the apparent weakness of the opposition. On Sporting Life: His half-brother Kauto Stone is also on target for Cheltenham with the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase rather than the Ryanair Chase looking the more likely option after he ran too free in the Ascot Chase last time. "He's in the Ryanair and the Champion Chase and we've got to make a decision," the Ditcheat trainer said. "If he ran in the Ryanair the way he did at Ascot he won't get home so we might look at the Champion Chase."
