THE current cold snap has meant it's been a quiet week on the jumping front, with many meetings being called off, thankfully the all-weather action has come to the rescue.

Wolverhampton raced on Monday and Middleham trainer Andy Crook will have been delighted after the maiden as his Certification came home in front under Neil Farley.

The winner had showed fair form on the Flat for Mark Johnston before going jumping and it will be interesting to see were he goes next, as he strikes as a real fun horse.

Today's meeting at Newcastle is also in some doubt, with snow and ice around the area, however, tomorrow's big meeting at Newbury is all set to go ahead as the track has had fleece covers on it all week.

Malton trainer John Quinn is hoping to run both Chieftain's Choice and Forced Family Fun in the Betfair Hurdle, a race he landed in 2011 with Recession Proof who won from a handicap mark of 134, the rating both of his representatives are set to run off this weekend.

With a 24-runner limit on the field, Chieftain's Choice is currently 26th on the list with his stablemate just underneath.

Chieftain's Choice has won two of his three outings over hurdles to date, while Forced Family Fun is three from seven over timber, mixing it with life on the level.

"They're both on target for Saturday," said Quinn.

"I don't know if there are any comparisons to draw with Recession Proof but they're both rated 134 and that is exactly won he won off so if the handicapper is right I think they've got a chance, anyway.

"They are two very nice horses."

Emerging owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have three entries but Quinn will be pleased to know that one of those, Dawalan, who won at Musselburgh on Sunday, is highly unlikely to run.

Their racing manager Anthony Bromley said: "Dawalan was still on his way back from Scotland when it was confirmation time so we left him in but he won't run, I'd have thought. The ground going soft is also against him.

"Vasco Du Ronceray will run but we don't know who will ride him yet, we're waiting on Barry Geraghty.

"The soft ground won't bother him but he's around 20-1 and I suppose that sums up his chance as he doesn't look thrown in off a mark of 143.

"He had some decent juvenile form, he ran well in the Triumph (fifth) and was narrowly beaten in the Adonis by Irish Saint. They were a good crop that year.

"He's had niggling injuries and isn't the easiest to train but the trainer (Nicky Henderson) seems happy with him now. He's just more exposed than some.

News broke on Wednesday afternoon that Dynaste will not be able to defend his crown in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next month after being ruled out for the season.

David Pipe's nine-year-old beat Hidden Cyclone at the Festival last year and was being prepared for a return to Prestbury Park, having most recently finished third to Many Clouds in the BetBright Cup Chase at the Cotswolds venue, after which he returned sore.

His jockey Tom Scudamore said: "David rang me this morning to tell me he would miss Cheltenham and it's obviously a big blow.

"It's very disappointing and he'll leave a big hole as far as our Cheltenham is concerned, that's for sure, but we're thankful for what he did for us last season and hopefully he'll be back better than ever."

Prior to his run behind Hennessy hero Many Clouds, Pipe's charge had been a fine second to Gold Cup favourite Silviniaco Conti in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.