Sizing John is on course to try to reclaim the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on February 2.

So, Conor O’Neill, general manager of Punchestown racecourse, admitted to being ‘very disappointed’ the John Durkan Memorial Chase (run at Punchestown last Sunday) was broadcast on a split screen with no commentary in the early stages.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are responsible for nine of the 14 remaining entries in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

"It is with a heavy heart I have to report that Sizing John will miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup."

I don’t think it is any great exaggeration to describe Willie Mullins’ Djakadam as having developed into something of a professional loser.

"I started training at 42 with a six-month-old child, so it was total madness!"

Douvan is the star name among 12 entries for the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.

Willie Mullins reports the preparation for his three main hopes for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup - Vautour, Djakadam and Don Poli - to be bang on schedule with the big race just three weeks away.

Gordon Elliott will consider letting stable star Don Cossack turn out for next week’s Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.

Don Cossack should prove tough to beat in his bid for a second Grade 1 success in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, highlight of tomorrow’s card at Punchestown.

Jim Culloty is looking forward to getting his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere back on the course in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

The Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase proved a major anti-climax in Punchestown yesterday as the Willie Mullins-trained Arvika Ligeonniere coasted to an effortless nine lengths win over 2011 winner Rubi Light.

It was staring us in the face, but we couldn’t - or wouldn’t - see it.

Trainer Peter Casey has no doubt three miles is well within Flemenstar’s range following his fantastic performance at Punchestown on Sunday.

The Gold Cup dream is still very much alive following Flemenstar’s spectacular defeat of Sir Des Champs in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase in Punchestown yesterday.

Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs - two of Ireland’s most exciting young chasing talents - clash in what is a small-but-select field for tomorrow’s Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

Barring any late setback, Pandorama will make his long-awaited return to action in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown later this month.

A compelling clash between two of Ireland’s most exciting jumpers is on the cards at Punchestown on Sunday with Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs among the entries for the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

A faultless, front-running display by Flemenstar in the Grade 2 Irish Form Book Fortria Chase proved the highlight of yesterday’s action in Navan.

Flemenstar romped to an impressive eleven lengths win in the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Rubi Light captured his first Grade One victory in tremendous style with a brilliant performance in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

Rubi Light ran his rivals ragged to be an impressive winner of the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

WITH conditions in his favour, Joncol will be expected to become the first horse since Native Upmanship to win a second John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

PAUL NOLAN expects the testing ground to suit Joncol in Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

LAST year’s winner Tranquil Sea has been given the green light by Edward O’Grady to bid for a John Durkan Memorial Chase double at Punchestown on Sunday after his comeback win in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Paul Nolan is praying for plenty of rain to tempt him to run Joncol in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury later this month.

Tranquil Sea is likely to head for back-to-back wins in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown after doing just that in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Tranquil Sea had little difficulty following up last year’s win in the Clonmel Oil Chase at the County Tipperary track.

HENRY de Bromhead is weighing up the options for Sizing Europe following his highly creditable performance at Down Royal last weekend.

Henry de Bromhead is weighing up the options for Sizing Europe following his highly creditable performance at Down Royal last weekend.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has 10 of the 102 initial entries for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April.

PUNCHESTOWN are covering four miles of the track, which is a first on an Irish racecourse, in a bid to beat the forecasted freezing temperatures, ahead of Sunday’s Boylesports.com Chase day.

SOLWHIT is the nap choice to land the Bar One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, on a terrific programme at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Fairyhouse finally look like staging their much rearranged multi Grade One meeting on Wednesday after the course was passed fit following an inspection.

Officials at Cheltenham remain confident this week’s two-day fixture will go ahead as scheduled as the cold weather continues to tighten its grip on National Hunt racing.

Wednesday’s meeting at Fairyhouse and Thursday’s fixture at Punchestown have been cancelled due to snow and rescheduled for later dates.

TWIST MAGIC and The Nightingale feature among a strong entry for champion trainer Paul Nicholls in the totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Thursday.

IT is looking increasingly likely that racing will not resume in Ireland until Friday night on the all-weather at Dundalk.

CAPTAIN CEE BEE, is set to return to Punchestown for his next start in the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

TOM COOPER is preparing his stable star Forpadydeplasterer for a crack at the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

WILLIE MULLINS has yet to make any hard and fast plans for his stable stars’ return to the race course but reports most of them to be in fine fettle as the National Hunt season kicks into gear.

Joncol is on course to bid for glory in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 following his recent victory at Punchestown.

Joncol booked his ticket to the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 when showing plenty of guts to win the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

This afternoon's meeting at Punchestown, featuring the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase, will go ahead as scheduled.

QUINOLA Des Obeaux is the nap choice to land the Kilberry Novice Hurdle at Navan this afternoon.