Inspections at Huntingdon, Taunton; Thurles (Ireland) abandoned

With frost and snow about, there are inspections at all 3 N.H. tracks hoping to stage racing today - Huntingdon, Taunton and Thurles in Ireland. Should racing go ahead, we hope to see Paul Nicholls land a double at Taunton with Sunwise (Nick Scholfield) and Sanctuaire (Harry Skelton) in the two divisions of the maiden hurdle at 15.30 CET and 16.30 respectively. Both are making their British debuts.

The former was last seen winning on the all-weather at Dundalk in October, while the latter was placed the same month in a large field at Auteuil. Nicholls also has a live candidate in Sang Bleu for the Triumph Hurdle, and this ex-French performer lines up under Tony McCoy in the 4yo hurdle at Huntingdon at 16.10. Unfortunately Alan King´s big Triumph hope Mille Chief misses the race, but there is still serious opposition from the unbeaten Bothy (Brian Ellison/ Krith Mercer) and Stars du Granits (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman). German-bred Nicky Nutjob will need to show considerable improvement to figure in this company.

Later: the Irish meeting at Thurles, where the temperature dropped to -9 overnight, has been abandoned