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NEWBURY RACES 1210-1535 GMT, Friday
1245 Aon Chase 1315 Game Spirit Chase 1350 Totesport Trophy Hurdle Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio 5 live, report/results on BBC Sport website

Runners at Newbury racecourse in January 2011Newbury is set to stage its rescheduled meeting on Friday six days after two horses were killed by electrocution.

The horses died in the parade ring before the first race of Saturday's fixture, which was abandoned after the opening contest was completed.

Officials say the course is now safe after an underground cable was removed.

Cheltenham Gold Cup contender What A Friend, part-owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, is among those due to run at the Berkshire track.

The dual Grade One winner faces four rivals in the Aon Chase.

Walkon, who is entered for the Champion Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival, tops the field for the Totesport Trophy.

On Thursday, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced the deaths of horses Fenix Two and Marching Song were most likely due to "accidental electrocution".

Post-mortems revealed both suffered heart attacks and no suspicious substances had been found.

An electricity cable which ran beneath the parade ring has since been disconnected and removed.

The two horses died on Saturday before the first race, which was run before the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.

BHA expert Professor Tim Morris on cause of horse deaths

Newbury officials have assured the BHA the parade ring area is safe for use by horses and humans.

On Friday, What A Friend could book a place at Cheltenham for him and young jockey Harry Skelton.

Trainer Paul Nicholls boasts a strong Gold Cup team, with Ruby Walsh set for Kauto Star, Sam Thomas to be reacquainted with Denman and Nick Scholfield having partnered Pride Of Dulcote.

"He's going to need to run well if he is going to go for the Gold Cup but it's a nice prep for him," said champion trainer Nicholls of What A Friend.

Nicholls has a second runner in former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Noland, the mount of champion jockey Tony McCoy.

Ben Case runs Dance Island, who was pulled up when fancied for the Welsh National, while the versatile Fair Along and Carronhills, who is in both the Gold Cup and the Grand National but has not run for more than two years, complete the field.

Walkon, trained by Alan King, is among the market leaders for the Totesport Trophy.

Last year's winner Get Me Out Of Here, who will be ridden by McCoy for trainer Jonjo O'Neill, is seeking a second victory in the race.

The seven-year-old was an impressive winner of the competitive handicap 12 months ago and went on to finish second to Menorah in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: "He was a bit disappointing early in the season and we could never find a lot wrong with him.

"He just didn't run well for what ever reason, but lets hope he puts it together at Newbury."

King hopes the delay will have worked in Walkon's favour.

"I always said that the race could come a week early as it had only been three weeks since his Ascot comeback and circumstances have given us an extra six days," he said.

King also saddles Salden Licht and The Betchworth Kid, while the 15-strong field includes Brian Ellison pair Bothy and Palomar, plus the John Quinn-trained Recession Proof.

Solix is set to make his first start on British soil for Nicky Henderson having arrived from France, while the trainer also runs last season's Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino and Eradicate.

In the Game Spirit Chase, Take The Breeze could give Paul Nicholls his sixth victory in the last eight runnings of the contest.

Nicholls also has Haldon Gold Cup winner Tchico Polos, the mount of McCoy.

Agences de presses

Labels: delayed, meeting, Newbury, Sport