Trainer Tony Curran is more hopeful than confident that Irish challenger Flemenstar can win an “away game” in today’s Betfair Ascot Chase.

Colin Tizzard last night revealed Ladbrokes World Hurdle favourite Thistlecrack will aimed at the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup next year.

Irish challengers Don Cossack and Vautour are among the star names among the 10 horses left in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

Willie Mullins has raised the possibility of running two of his stable stars in the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle on Thursday week.

Felix Yonger might upstage triple Grade 1 winner Flemenstar on his return to action in today’s Grade 2 Webster Cup in Navan.

The flat season gets under way tomorrow and there will be plenty focus on the public gallops that many of the Ballydoyle hopefuls will be doing after racing at the Curragh.

Flemenstar will make his long-awaited return in Saturday’s Webster Cup at Navan.

Tony Martin’s Cheltenham Festival hero Savello is set to make his seasonal reappearance over the Festive period.

Davy Russell and Philip Enright are free to ride at the big Christmas festivals after the five-day bans they received for the ’whip borrowing’ incident at Clonmel on December 7 were reduced to two days on appeal.

A crucial scan early next month is likely to determine when top-class chaser Flemenstar can make his return to competitive action.

Flemenstar will not run again this season because of a tendon injury but connections expect him to return to action next term.

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’s a busy weekend for Willie Mullins’ stable, with runners at four meetings, including this afternoon at Aintree, but I’m staying at home to ride at Navan, where the exciting Faugheen and Felix Yonger hold very strong claims.

Danny Mullins must have felt like someone who had just been let out of jail after partnering The Tullow Tank to success in a maiden hurdle at Naas last Saturday.

The progressive Willie Mullins-trained Arvika Ligeonniere was far too good for his five rivals in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Tony Martin dominated proceedings at Navan yesterday, with Flemenstar’s second successive Boylesports.com Fortria Chase triumph the highlight of a treble for the County Meath trainer.

Flemenstar, one of the major names of the jumping scene, makes his seasonal reappearance in the Boylesports.com Fortria Chase at Navan tomorrow.

I think I can head to Naas today with a degree of optimism and it’ll be a surprise, at least to me, should I leave empty-handed.

Owner Stephen Curran has confirmed top Irish chaser Flemenstar will be trained by Tony Martin this season.

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.

It was supposed to be the race of the season but the John Smith’s Melling Chase served as just another opportunity to look on with wonder at Sprinter Sacre.

Trainer Colin Tizzard has confirmed Cue Card on course for a thrilling possible clash with Sprinter Sacre in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday week.

There were plenty willing to knock Sir Des Champs as a possible Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, following his hard-earned defeat of Flemenstar in the Hennessy at Leopardstown a week ago, but here's one who continues to believe he has a massive chance next month.

Trainer Peter Casey says Flemenstar is “very unlikely” to run at the Cheltenham Festival nest month after being found to have a lung infection.

Flemenstar’s owner Stephen Curran is adamant his horse did not show his true colours in his defeat to Sir Des Champs at Leopardstown on Saturday.

It was billed as a day of destiny and so it proved.

Trainer Peter Casey is keeping race tactics close to his chest ahead of Flemenstar’s crucial test in today’s Hennessey Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Racing has continued to be severely affected by the weather and tomorrow’s meeting at Naas is touch and go, but we’re getting plenty excitement today with four Grade 1s at Leopardstown. I don’t have a runner in any of them but am looking forward to them nonetheless.

Sir Des Champs can finally prove he is a realistic Cheltenham Gold Cup horse by landing the Hennessy at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Willie Mullins is currently dominating Irish National Hunt racing in a manner not seen since the days of the late Tom Dreaper.

I’m spending a rare Saturday at home today in Naas - weather permitting - after Ascot was abandoned yesterday.

You simply run out of superlatives when it comes to the riding of Ruby Walsh.

Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs are the star names among nine runners in a fantastic renewal of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.

Arvika Ligeonniere aims to enhance his Arkle claims as he comes back in trip for the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

I’m hoping to win the King George at Kempton on Wednesday aboard Kauto Stone, but the more I’ve looked at the race the more convinced I’ve become that Long Run is going to be hard to beat.

Peter Casey reports Flemenstar on course for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Friday following a pleasing schooling session under big-race jockey Andrew Lynch.

Sir Des Champs could yet travel to Kempton to contest the William Hill King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day with trainer Willie Mullins describing his decision as to whether to run in that race or the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown as “a 50/50 call”.

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

Gordon Elliott’s exciting prospect Don Cossack will take his next step in a fascinating Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

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.