If Giant’s Causeway was the iron horse of flat racing then it is no exaggeration to describe Un De Sceaux as the National Hunt equivalent.

He’s a winning machine on the brink of equalling a modern-day winning sequence — so why has three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Altior yet to fully capture the public imagination?

Beware The Bear claimed top honours in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

A year ago, we gave 10 horses to follow for the National Hunt season and it worked out reasonably well, so it makes sense to have another go.

Willie Mullins confirmed last night that Footpad is likely to head for Aintree after being taken out out of the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

There were many treats over the last four days in Ireland and Britain, but for me the biggest star to emerge was Willie Mullins’ Footpad in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Tuesday, writes Pat Keane.

It really would be the ultimate irony should Willie Mullins finally land the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Djakadam next Friday, writes Pat Keane.

Ruby Walsh admits “tougher test lie ahead” for Min, but was adamant he could not have been any more impressive at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Richard Fahey equalled retired trainer Richard Hannon snr’s record of 235 winners in a calendar year thanks to a Lingfield double through Gabrial The Hero and Luis Vaz De Torres.

Un De Sceaux, last season’s top novice, heads a list of 10 entries for the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday but won’t face a showdown with Sprinter Sacre at Sandown after Nicky Henderson withdrew the nine-year-old from the race.

Enda Bolger believes Un De Sceaux would not be out of place in the Queen Mother Champion Chase after he slammed his star novice chaser Gilgamboa at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Un De Sceaux, owned by Eddie O’Connell from Glanmire and trained by Willie Mullins, put up what can only be described as an astonishing performance to land the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors’ Arkle Novice Chase.

Clarcam made the most of a serious mistake from hot favourite Vautour to grab Grade One glory in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Ruby Walsh was delighted that Un De Sceaux put a fall on his chasing debut firmly behind him with an impressive victory at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Dessie Hughes was described as the "professional’s professional" by Willie Mullins as tributes poured in from the racing world following the Kildare trainer’s death at the age of 71.

Exciting young chaser Defy Logic is back in training with Paul Nolan after recovering from a broken blood vessel at owner JP McManus’ stud in County Limerick.

Champagne Fever is fancied to lead his rivals a merry dance in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown this evening.

Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles two runners for the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

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.

Sire De Grugy is all set for his date with destiny as he assumes the mantle of favourite for the BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Paul Nolan has been forced to rule out his top-class novice chaser Defy Logic for the rest of the season.

Mossey Joe is likely to be targeted at the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for new trainer Enda Bolger after he was snapped up by leading owner Barry Connell.

Nicky Henderson has been forced to rule Arkle Trophy hero Simonsig out for the season.

Owner Caroline Mould admits it is a “huge possibility” Sprinter Sacre could step up in trip at Aintree for his next run.

Imperial Commander could be targeted at the John Smith’s Grand National in April after being ruled out of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Henry de Bromhead said it was “50-50” which race Sizing Europe will run in at Cheltenham after he was officially scratched from the Betfred Gold Cup.

Benefficient won a dramatic race in a three-runner affair for the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Alderwood could well go back down the handicap route at this season’s Cheltenham Festival after making it third time lucky over fences at Navan on Sunday.

Arvika Ligeonniere has secured his second consecutive Grade One prize with another fine front-running display in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Arvika Ligeonniere and Oscars Well could clash in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

Tom Cooper believes testing conditions were to blame for Forpadydeplasterer’s disappointing performance in last weekend’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Another of John Hales’ army of greys handed Paul Nicholls the last of jumping racing’s major prizes to have eluded him as Al Ferof took the starring role in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Sprinter Sacre has frightened away all but three rivals as he attempts to take his unbeaten run over fences to five in this afternoon’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

Forpadydeplasterer is likely to go for the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree next month in his bid to end his luckless streak.

Sizing Europe and Big Zeb, the first two home in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase last year, are on course for a rematch at Cheltenham next Wednesday.

Donald McCain is considering whether to let Peddlers Cross join some of his stable companions for a gallop after racing at Bangor today.

Connections of Sprinter Sacre’s Arkle Trophy rivals are likely to be quaking in their boots after the giant gelding produced a devastating performance in the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury yesterday.

Binocular will bypass the BetVictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso tomorrow and instead head straight for next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Tony Martin is no hurry to commit Bog Warrior to Cheltenham following his all-the-way win at Naas on Saturday.

Tony Martin is no hurry to commit Bog Warrior to Cheltenham following his all-the-way win at Naas yesterday.

Nicky Henderson has ruled out taking Binocular to Ireland for his prep race before the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

BIG BUCK’S treated Cheltenham racegoers to a preview of what will surely be a fourth victory in March’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle when winning for the 15th time in-a-row on Saturday.

BIG BUCK’S appears to face a straightforward task as he goes in search of a 15th straight victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

RUBI LIGHT, third behind dual winner Albertas Run and Kalahari King in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season, will skip the Gold Cup this year for another crack at the Ryanair after he finished second in the Lexus.

LE BEAU BAI provided the closest possible thing to a first home-trained winner of the Coral Welsh National since Norther in 1965.