Time change raises hopes Welsh Grand National will go ahead at Chepstow

The prestigious fixture had to be abandoned due to waterlogging when originally planned to take place on December 27, but was swiftly rescheduled.

While conditions at the Monmouthshire circuit remain extremely testing, clerk of the course Keith Ottesen is hopeful the meeting will take place after assessing the weather forecast and getting the go-ahead to move the main event to 1.45pm from its original start time of 3.25pm, helping to ensure the best possible ground is on offer.

Ottesen said: "Saturday's meeting at Wincanton being off has given us the chance to change the running order and ensure the Welsh Grand National is run on the best ground on the day.

"The Welsh National will now be the first chase on the card and the third race overall. It will also be the first televised race on Channel 4.

"We had 16 millimetres of rain overnight and the ground is heavy, but the track is raceable.

"We're forecast a dry day for the rest of today and there might be a shower or two around tomorrow, but nothing too serious.

"There are then a few showers around on Friday night into Saturday morning before a more organised band of rain comes on Saturday afternoon, but it's difficult to be too precise about when that will arrive.

"At the moment things are looking very positive, but we obviously need to keep an eye on things and we'll keep everyone updated as best we can."

Racing at Chepstow is now due to commence at 12.35pm, five minutes later than originally scheduled. Four races from the track, including the Grade One coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle (2.20pm), will be shown live on Channel 4.

Oliver Sherwood rules out Puffin Billy return this season Oliver Sherwood has been forced to rule Puffin Billy out for the season.

The talented eight-year-old signed off last term with three successive wins, including a valuable event at Ayr's Grand National meeting.

He was due to make his comeback at Sandown in November but was found to be lame on the morning of the race and had his sights set on Kempton this weekend.

However, another minor problem has flared up and Sherwood feels the best course of action will be to give him plenty of time off.

"We've decided to give him the rest of this season off," said Sherwood.

"He's just got a minor joint problem and while it wouldn't take that long to come right and will eventually settle down, we thought it best to give him a long break.

"It's just been a bit stop-start this year so it's probably the best course of action."

Cheltenham announces record prize-money purse at Festival Prize-money at the Cheltenham Festival in March will exceed £4million for the first time.

An increase in value to the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup to £575,000 had already been announced and there are also bigger purses on offer in the National Hunt Chase (£100,000), the JLT Novices' Chase (£130,000) and the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (£70,000).

Nine of the 10 handicaps at the Festival will also be more valuable.

Simon Claisse, regional director of racing, Jockey Club Racecourses South West, and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said: "Cheltenham is delighted to offer record prize-money of over £4million at the Festival in 2016.

"We continually strive to provide the very best experience for everyone involved with jump racing and, with these prize-money increases, along with the recent investment in the owners' and trainers' facilities and the new owners' and trainers' bar in the Princess Royal Stand, we are proud of what we offer to owners and trainers."

Fergal O'Brien has a Perfect Candidate for Grand National Fergal O'Brien believes he has a second viable Crabbie's Grand National contender in Perfect Candidate.

O'Brien has saddled Alvarado to finish fourth in the last two renewals and while that stalwart is on target for the race again, Perfect Candidate threw his hat into the ring when winning at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

"We are going to enter him in the Grand National and he will have a race somewhere in between that," said O'Brien.

"He will be entered in the Scottish National as well.

"He has come out the race at Cheltenham well and we were delighted with that.

"We've had a think about it and he is nine so he is at his prime, really, as we started late with him.

"Paddy Brennan doesn't see a reason why we shouldn't go there.

"The profile of the race suits him and off 143 he is certain to get a run."

He went on: "Alvarado is in great form. We will just keep tipping away with him and find something in the middle of February for him.

"In an ideal world, I'd love to get two runs into him. We might go back to Doncaster for the same veterans' chase he ran in last year.

"He's had two runs in the National now and finished fourth both times.

"He puts a lot into it that's why he is late back in as it takes him a long time to recover from it."

Oliver Sherwood mulling Many options for Clouds Oliver Sherwood is busy plotting the path back to Aintree for his Grand National winner Many Clouds, with a trip to Kelso a possible option.

Sherwood is still training him for the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham's Trials Day, but with Gold Cup runner up Djakadam, Hennessy winner Smad Place and 2014 RSA hero O'Faolains Boy all in the mix for that race, Many Clouds could swerve it.

Newbury's Denman Chase is another option, as are two races at the Borders track, with Sherwood wanting to get two more runs into Many Clouds before he attempts to become the first back-to-back National winner since Red Rum.

"We are still aiming towards the Cotswold Chase, but at the moment it seems like every man and his dog are, too," said Sherwood.

"With that in mind, the Denman Chase at Newbury is also a possibility, but I've had a look and there are also two options for him at Kelso.

"There's one on February 18 (Ivan Straker Memorial) and then there's one in early March (Totepool Premier Chase).

"I really want to get two runs into him before the National, just because I want to get the mileage into his legs, really.

"I'm training him for Cheltenham but it could change.

"He ran a blinder at Aintree and Don Poli came out and won the Lexus and his Wetherby run looks all the better now, too, as he was trying to give 10lb to Cue Card and look what he has done since."

Jamie Snowden keeps options open with Buche De Noel Jamie Snowden has a host of options for his exciting French recruit Buche De Noel.

The five-year-old mare held a plethora of entries this week but Snowden is content to wait for the opportunity which suits her best, having won over hurdles and fences in France.

"I don't think she'll go to Kempton on Saturday as taking on Ptit Zig and Wishfull Thinking on her first run over here would be a big ask," said Snowden.

"We'll wait for an easier option, but she looks a smart recruit.

"She works nicely and had a progressive profile in France.

"If we ran her against other mares she'd have a double penalty over hurdles and in novice chases, like the one she was entered in at Doncaster, you're taking on the likes of Vyta De Roc.

"The race for her is the Listed novice hurdle for mares at Sandown on February 19, but I'd like to run her before then.

"There's a graduation chase at Market Rasen and if we run there, we'd hopefully see what we have with Cheltenham in mind.

"The two obvious options there are the mares' race or a novice handicap chase, but if she wins her graduation chase, we might be looking at the JLT.

"There's also a Grade Two at Haydock on the 23rd of this month (Altcar Novices' Chase) and were she to win that, we might think about the Scilly Isles at Sandown on February 6."

Nicky Henderson lines up Haydock heat for Peace And Co The stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock con January 23 has emerged as the next target for Peace And Co.

Nicky Henderson's Triumph Hurdle winner has questions to answer after his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham last month went anything but to plan.

He was seen as the main threat to Faugheen's Champion Hurdle crown in March but pulled ferociously on his return in the International Hurdle and ended up trailing in last of six behind Old Guard, losing his unbeaten record in the process.

Peace And Co returned with a few minor issues, but is now ready to visit the track again.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager for Peace And Co's owners, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "Peace And Co is moving well again.

"He should be going to the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

"That's the plan we have for him at the moment and he should get to Haydock."