Rising Yorkshire star Tazbar ruled out of Festival tilt

Two weeks ago, Tazbar – Yorkshire's great new racing hope – was firmly on course for the Cheltenham Festival after a faultless round of jumping at Doncaster that culminated with an emphatic 14-length victory.

Now the brilliant eight-year-old's season is over after Keith Reveley's stable star was yesterday discovered to have damaged a tendon.

The winner of three out of his four starts over fences, Tazbar was being aimed at the RSA Chase, despite the Reveley family's longstanding reservations about Cheltenham's gruelling nature, before the injury was discovered.

He was as low as 16-1 with the leading bookmakers and many racing observers believe Tazbar's jumping to be far superior to the athleticism shown by ante-post favourite Long Run, the only horse to beat the Reveley horse over the larger obstacles.

"He has a slight tendon injury and will be out for the rest of the season," said a disappointed Reveley from his stables near Saltburn.

"It's not serious but it's enough to prevent him from running again this season. We just felt a bit of heat in his tendon last Thursday or Friday, so we took him to the vets over the weekend and the scan revealed there was some damage.

"It's obviously disappointing for everyone but that's jump racing and, hopefully, he'll be back next season.

"We'll just give him a nice break now and the vet just said to give him a scan in August and see how it's looking but if he needs longer, he'll get longer."

In other Cheltenham news, Paul Nicholls has ruled out the possibility of Denman wearing blinkers in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Part-owner Harry Findlay had mentioned the aid of some form of headgear in the belief that the 2008 Gold Cup winner would benefit from the assistance.

However, while Nicholls says a sheepskin noseband is a possibility, blinkers are not on his mind after the horse parted company with his jockey, Tony McCoy, at Newbury 10 days ago.

"He definitely won't wear them at Cheltenham," said the champion trainer.

"I know people say we did it with See More Business when he won the Gold Cup (in 1999) but he'd been jumping badly and had just become naughty.

"Denman made a mistake last week but he's generally a brilliant jumper."

DONCASTER is to spearhead a pioneering new initiative that will see the creation of the first week where spectators can race for free every day.

This ground-breaking initiative, involving Doncaster's April 30 meeting, is being organised by 'Racing for Change' as part of a wider campaign to broaden the appeal of the sport.

Eight racecourses, over a period of six days between April 26 and May 1, will open their gates and welcome visitors

free of charge so they can experience the thrill of a day at the races.

'Racing for Change' chairman Chris McFadden said: "This is a fantastic initiative that demonstrates that horse racing is united in its efforts to promote itself to new audiences.

"The racecourses involved are making a large commitment to support this idea, and we will measure the impact that it has and see what we can learn for the future.

"The modernisation of horse racing is only just beginning. With broad support across the whole industry, we can increase the popularity of the sport while maintaining the essential qualities that make our racing so strong and the envy of the world."

IN another boost to horse racing in the county, 'Welcome to Yorkshire' is to sponsor the popular Middleham Stables Open Day this year.

The annual event, which attracts more than 7,000 visitors to Middleham, will be held on Good Friday, April 2.

The announcement comes just weeks after the tourism body was confirmed as the headline sponsor of York's Ebor Festival.

Chief executive Gary Verity said: "Middleham has a long and proud racing heritage and Middleham Stables Open Day is a unique opportunity to visit these legendary stables.

"No other county embraces horse racing like Yorkshire

does. We have the most

racecourses, some of the best trainers and jockeys, not to mention a passionate race-going public.

"I urge everyone who loves racing in Yorkshire and the UK to come and support us on this fabulous day."