Horse Racing: Nacarat can ensure another grey day

Nacarat put up a superb display of jumping to slam Possol by nine lengths in the hands of Tony McCoy last February and the horse's preparation could not have gone better.

George has had this race in mind since Nacarat finished fourth to Kauto Star over the course and distance on Boxing Day and McCoy is back in the saddle as Sam Thomas, who rode him that day, is suspended.

"I'm very happy with his programme and I just hope that everything goes right for him on the day," said the Slad trainer. "He's had a trouble-free period since the King George and everything's looking good for him. AP (McCoy] knows the horse well and he has had a better preparation than he had before the King George so he'll have come on a bit since then."

Nicky Henderson took this prize with Marlborough in 2004 and this time saddles Oedipe off bottom weight of 10st. "It was either get 10st for this race or throw him in the Kim Muir off top weight. It was one or the other, but he gets to carry no weight in this," said the Seven Barrows trainer.

One horse who will not be lining up is Robert and Sally Alner's gambled-on Miss Mitch after suffering a late injury setback.

Punjabi should put himself back in the Champion Hurdle mix with victory in what is effectively a consolation event for last weekend's Kingwell Hurdle, which was lost to the weather. The reigning champion has been out of luck in two starts this term but he is a horse that needs his racing and victory in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle Trial will put him spot on for Cheltenham.

Magic Sky can make amends for a fall at Bangor last time with victory in Chepstow's totesport.com Veterans' Handicap Chase. The ten-year-old barely qualifies for veteran status and is still capable of mixing it in standard company, as he has shown with a couple of wins already this term.

There is plenty of good all-weather action on offer at Lingfield, too, with all eyes on Dubai World Cup hopeful Gitano Hernando in the Winter Derby Trial Stakes. A Grade One winner in America last year, Gitano Hernando is head and shoulders above the rest on form but he will have to shoulder an extra 6lb as he returns from a lengthy lay-off. Trainer Marco Botti has already stated he will improve for the run so taking that into account, preference is for Tom Tate's Suits Me who should be available at more generous odds.

Jaconet signed off last term with a Listed win at Lingfield and can repeat the trick on his return in the betdaq.co.uk Cleves Stakes.

The formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh once again struck gold as Kempes gained his second success over fences in the Grade Two Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Sent off at 9-2, the seven-year-old was ridden with typical confidence by the champion jockey.