Horse Racing: Don't Push It set for seasonal bow

Jonjo O'Neill's Grand National hero Don't Push It will make his first appearance since his Aintree heroics in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

The ten-year-old gave champion jockey Tony McCoy an emotional first success in the world's most famous steeplechase back in April.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, is looking forward to getting his season under way at Prestbury Park. "It's nice to get him back out and Jonjo is very happy with him," said Berry. "With the way the weather has been, it's just nice to be able to get a run into him and this is a nice little race to get him going again.

"He's in good form and we'll just see how he gets on tomorrow before we make any plans. We've no major targets until Aintree and we'll just take each race as it comes. It's his first run back after having a hard race at Aintree, so he'll come on for the run." Don't Push It is one of 17 runners in the competitive three-mile contest.

Alan Berry will be the man in the saddle, with McCoy opting to ride stable companion Synchronised.

While Don't Push It returns to action, Noel Fehily's comeback has been delayed after being told by British Horseracing Authority chief medical advisor Dr Michael Turner that he will not be allowed to return to the saddle this weekend.

Fehily suffered a wrist injury when falling at last month's Hennessy Gold Cup meeting at Newbury but had hoped to return to action at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Fehily had been schooling at Paul Nicholls' yard this morning and admits he is shocked he will not be able to ride this weekend, meaning he will miss the mount on Master Minded in tomorrow's Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase, with McCoy taking his place.

"The doctor has stood me down, but I can't understand why because he hasn't even seen me yet this morning," said Fehily. "I've been schooling this morning so it seems a bit harsh to me, but that's the way it is."

Meanwhile, John Hales expects his exciting youngster Al Ferof, another of Fehily's intended mounts, to make a winning start to his hurdling career at Cheltenham today.

After an impressive performance at Fairyhouse a year ago, the grey was snapped up by Hales and trainer Nicholls to run in the Champion Bumper. Although no match for the hugely impressive Cue Card, the five-year-old came home clear of the rest and he will jump obstacles for the first time in public in the EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park.

"We've had a bit of a blow with Noel (Fehily] being failed by the doctor, but we've got Sam Thomas in to ride him," said Hales."I'd be disappointed if he didn't win."

The vast majority of the course is raceable, but officials at Cheltenham have called a 10.30am inspection of the cross country course ahead of the The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap.