Racing: Henderson sextet on trail of Tote Gold Trophy

Nicky Henderson's desire to extend his monopoly of the Tote Gold Trophy was evident yesterday when weights for this year's race were announced. Of 52 horses entered for the £110,000 race at Newbury on 9 February, Henderson's Seven Barrows stable is responsible for six, of which three are among the first half dozen in the Tote's betting. Henderson has won the race in three of the last four years, with Sharpical, Geos and Landing Light.

One of Henderson's sextet is the 1999 Triumph Hurdle runner-up, Regal Exit, who has been allotted 9st 11lb, a weight which his trainer described as "very interesting". He is the Tote's 8-1 second-favourite, behind Valiramix on 6-1.

"I think it is a very big possibility he will run," Henderson said. "He is coming along nicely. I would just like to get some work into him on grass." Tysou, Lady Boston, Dark Shell, Got One Too and Deoch An Dorais are Henderson's other entries.

Britain faces another day without racing on turf today following the abandonment of Sedgefield and Taunton. Prospects for Saturday's meetings look bleak. There will be inspections for the televised cards at Sandown and Haydock at 4pm today, while Uttoxeter also looks doubtful. A forecast thaw on Friday has encouraged hopes that the card at Musselburgh might beat the cold snap.

TOTE GOLD TROPHY (Newbury, 9 February) Tote: 6-1 Valiramix, 8-1 Regal Exit, 10-1 Dark Shell, Lady Boston, Magnus, Marble Arch, 12-1 Ilnamar, Silver Top, 14-1 In Contrast, Tango Royal, Westender, 16-1 Brother Joe, Fait Le Jojo, Got One Too, Image De Marque II, Joe Cullen, Lord Brex, Salamah, Telemoss, 20-1 others.