It has rained overnight. This I construe as good news for Djakadam, my Gold Cup fancy. 

Robert Waley-Cohen is pleased to report Long Run suffered no lasting damage following a troubled journey home from France.

Nicky Henderson pointed to the effects of a lengthy season taking its toll on Long Run as the former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was well beaten in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil yesterday.

Willie Mullins’ pair of On His Own and Boston Bob top a list of 10 declared runners for Wednesday’s Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup.

Hurricane Fly is on target to try for a sixth successive win at the Punchestown Festival and could face stablemate Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle, which he has won for the last four seasons, on May 2.

Barry Connell must feel like kicking something.

Pineau De Re claimed Crabbie's Grand National glory at Aintree for trainer Dr Richard Newland and jockey Leighton Aspell this afternoon.

What a great day to be on the couch, with the Grand National from Aintree and Heineken Cup rugby on the box! But, you know what, I’d give anything to be at Aintree, in the thick of the action.

It seems fitting that the first officially recorded Grand National winner way back in 1839 was called Lottery.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his jockey-son, Sam, have enjoyed unprecedented success over the Aintree fences but it could all pale into insignificance if Long Run wins the first £1m (€1.2m) renewal of the Crabbie’s Grand National.

As the market intensifies ahead of Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree, Michael Scudamore’s Monbeg Dude was the one most punters were interested in on Tuesday.

Long Run gained his first win since the 2012 King George VI Chase when landing the odds in the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase at Kelso yesterday.

Long Run is to travel north of the border for the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase later this week as connections head to Kelso in search of better ground.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m (€1.2m) Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

Long Run could tackle the £100,000 Kempton Park Chase at the Sunbury track on February 22 as a step towards a crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Paul Nicholls claimed his first William Hill King George VI Chase of the post-Kauto Star era as Silviniaco Conti hunted down Cue Card in the final stages of Kempton’s St Stephen’s feature.

Paul Nicholls has already collected the William Hill King George VI Chase more times than any trainer in history and he believes Silviniaco Conti and Al Ferof hold equally good chances of providing his eighth winner at Kempton on Thursday.

Colin Tizzard believes Kempton will suit Cue Card down to the ground when his stable star attempts to justify favouritism in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Richard Johnson believes Captain Chris has “everything in his favour” as he makes his seasonal return in the Betfred Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon today.

I thought some of the reaction to Annie Power’s success at Ascot last Saturday was a trifle amusing.

Last year’s winner Captain Chris will miss this afternoon’s Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot after being found to be lame.

A thrilling renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock tomorrow looks in store after eight runners were declared yesterday.

Part-owner Malcolm Kimmins admits Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth is likely to have plenty on his plate as he kicks off his season in what looks a mouth-watering renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Long Run’s jockey Sam Waley-Cohen has not ruled out a possible tilt at the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday week.

There are three admirable horses a lot of punters will not want to touch with a forty foot pole the next time they appear, namely Sizing Europe, First Lieutenant and Long Run.

The JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal next month is the likely next port of call for First Lieutenant after he was beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown last week.

You just know the National Hunt campaign is about to hit top gear when a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate is set to make his reappearance.

Charles Byrnes has the Leopardstown Christmas Festival as the first major target of the season for his World Hurdle hero Solwhit.

Willie Mullins plans to “keep things simple” with Hurricane Fly, with the dual Champion Hurdle hero likely to make his seasonal return in next month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

We've had a wonderful week at Punchestown, with Jezki's victory in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle the obvious highlight, but it was also fantastic for Madam Bovary to win yesterday’s opening race.

Today is all about one of my favourite horses, Hurricane Fly, in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins Cheltenham Gold Cup dream is alive and kicking, following the game success of Sir Des Champs in the Bet Online With The Tote.com Gold Cup at Punchestown last night.

Walking into Punchestown racecourse yesterday afternoon, it felt a little like turning up for the afters at a wedding — you know there are good times to come, but that the main event has been and gone.

I think today is my weakest book of rides of the week and will be delighted to get among the winners.

What this year’s Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown confirms is trainers are now targeting it and making sure their best horses are specifically fresh for it.

Sprinter Sacre stood his ground among eight entries remaining in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday but Flemenstar has been ruled out after connections decided to give the eight-year-old a wind operation.

Nicky Henderson will be keeping a keen eye on the weather before committing stable star Sprinter Sacre to a run at the Punchestown Festival next week.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has revealed Long Run will be given an entry in the Grand National next year.

Long Run is set to make his first visit to Ireland for the tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on April 24.

Racing was the real winner, as Bobs Worth’s limitless stamina kicked in to land a decisive success in what was a fantastic Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham yesterday.

Barry Geraghty had retreated indoors cradling a hot cuppa and reflecting on his Gold Cup success on board Bob’s Worth when another reminder of National Hunt’s innate danger played itself out a few feet to his left.

Bobs Worth provided Nicky Henderson with a second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in three years under Barry Geraghty.