BURY are revitalised and eager to halt their home slump after a successful day at the races writes Chris Hall

Manager Andy Preece took his squad to the first day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday in a bid to boost morale following a miserable run of results.

Away successes like the draw at league leaders Hartlepool on Friday night have helped keep the Shakers in the hunt for automatic promotion from Division Three.

But Preece knows their position could have been much stronger heading into the last quarter of the season, having won just four of their last 13 home league fixtures.

And, with a testing fixture pile-up of five games in 14 days starting against Macclesfield on Saturday, he admits he was keen to raise spirits in time for the run-in.

"It does the lads good to get together. They don't get many chances to have days like that because of financial restrictions at the club," he said.

"It has always helped us in the past. It's just aimed at getting everyone to relax and to keep up team spirit, which is excellent at the moment. That's really important with some crucial matches coming up."

And morale hit a peak after the William Hill National Hunt Chase with the winning horse, Youlneverwalkalone, heavily backed by the squad's sizeable Liverpool contingent.

"That was a big winner for us because there are a lot of Liverpool fans in our squad," said Preece.

"They were all singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' after the race and it was a great atmosphere.

"It was a good day but now we know it's back to work. There are 11 games to go and we are solely focussed on trying to get promotion."

After midweek results elsewhere pushed Shakers down into seventh place, a win at Moss Rose this weekend looks increasingly necessary to stop a top three place from drifting away from them.

But they may have to soldier on without the inspirational Chris Billy, with the tough tackling midfielder still struggling to shake off a knee injury.

And Preece admitted losing his key ball winner was a blow.

"We need leaders all over the pitch and Chris has the capability of being one," he said.

"He has been in situations like this before, playing for clubs going for promotion, and he's got the experience needed in this type of situation. So it would be nice to have him back in the side.

"He's had good and bad spells this season but if we can catch him at his best for the rest of the season, that will be a great boost.

"But, to be fair, all the lads who have played in his absence have done really well."