YESTERDAY’S West Waterford Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Lismore is one that will live long in the memory of teenager Jason Kiely for the 18-year-old amateur from Herbertstown partnered an initial career winner aboard the Patrick Farrell-trained Haile Deadly in the winners of one contest.

THE last three Saturdays have been terrific, with Kauto Star, Denman and Twist Magic, and the plan at Cheltenham today is to keep the run going.

NO Master Minded today, so I have to settle for Twist Magic in what looks a fascinating Tingle Creek at Sandown.

BETWEEN now and Saturday the question which is going to be on just about everyone’s lips is “what’s going to win the National?’

Irish trainer Ted Walsh believes his son, Ruby, is likely to ride Paul Nicholls’ My Will in the John Smith’s Grand National.

IT’S time to move on now and this weekend is all about riding in Ireland, at Naas today and Navan tomorrow.

THE eve of Cheltenham now and there is no doubt the most important thing this weekend is to walk out of Naas tomorrow night relatively unscathed.

Black Apalachi enhanced his Grand National claims with a bold display in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

TEN FIRES is the nap choice to beat 24 rivals in the Early Bird Discounted Tickets For Easter Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Michael O’Brien is confident Forget The Past can bounce back to form in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Ante-post favourite Nil Desperandum heads a total of 106 horses still engaged in the John Smith’s Grand National after the first forfeit stage.

A high-class entry featuring 119 hopefuls has been revealed for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14.

Five-times chase winner Southern Vic heads the 16 declared runners for today's Ellen Construction Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.

SOLE English challenger Kitski is a hopeful choice to win the Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap ’Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

FERDY Murphy’s Kitski is the sole British entry in the Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran on Thursday.

Southern Vic heads the 47 initial entries for the Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park on January 25.

TAKE a chance on Southern Vic creating a surprise in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.

War Of Attrition and Beef Or Salmon will lock horns once again in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown tomorrow.

CASHMANS have installed totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition and race specialist Beef Or Salmon as the 6-4 joint-favourites for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition and race specialist Beef Or Salmon feature among an eight-strong field for the Lexus Chase at the latest confirmation stage.

ARAN CONCERTO can provide the answer to the Grade 1 Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan tomorrow.

Hennessy Gold Cup winner State Of Play has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27.

Cane Brake gave Barry Geraghty back-to-back wins in the williamhill.ie Troytown Handicap Chase with a clear-cut victory in the Navan feature.

SOUTHERN VIC is fancied to defy top weight in the williamhill.ie Troytown Chase at Navan tomorrow.

CORNISH Rebel has been the subject of some significant support ahead of Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

THE exciting Catch Me has to be the choice to land the 22-runner Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle at Naas this afternoon.

THE REAL highlight at Liverpool on Saturday will be the Grade One Scottish and Newcastle Aintree Hurdle.

SOUTHERN VIC, who has the Irish National at Fairyhouse in his sights, has a prep run in the Lobinstown Novice Chase at Navan this afternoon.

BEEF OR SALMON has to do the business in style in tomorrow’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown if he is to retain his position at the head of Cheltenham’s Gold Cup market.

Conor O’Dwyer is worried the drying ground and a drop in trip might not be ideal for Southern Vic in the Dr P.J Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

YOU would have to be forgiven for thinking that Beef Or Salmon will enjoy little more than a good school in the richly-endowed Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Solerina notched up her 22nd career success when seeing off four rivals in the Cedar Building Hurdle at Naas.

THE progressive Southern Vic is fancied to concede weight all round in the Grade Two Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase at Naas this afternoon.

PARLIAMENT SQUARE is the nap choice to land the Gain Horse Feeds Hurdle on a decent programme at Thurles this afternoon.

THE lunacy of long-range ante-post betting for punters on National Hunt racing was surely never better illustrated than by the problems of Kicking King, Harchibald and Inglis Drever over the last few days.

BEEF OR SALMON thundered back into Cheltenham Gold Cup contention when storming away with the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Paul Carberry warmed up for Beef Or Salmon’s big-race success in the best way possible when he gave Rosaker a vintage ride to win the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Today's results from Leopardstown

Travino just held the late renewed challenge of Nicanor to claim Grade One glory in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan.

JUSTIFIED is fancied to get the better of a fascinating head-to-head with Wild Passion in the Volkswagen Jetta Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

AS you get older, and probably more cynical, it takes a lot to rouse one into waxing lyrical about something in sport that just grabs you by the throat and demands attention.

RUBY WALSH makes a swift return from an elbow injury at Galway this afternoon and is fancied to team up successfully with Southern Vic, trained by his father, Ted, in the W B Galvin and Co EBF Beginners Chase.

QUEEN ASTRID is fancied to land the best race of the weekend in Ireland, the Woodlands Park 100 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow.

BARRY GERAGHTY must have allowed himself a wry smile on Monday, as he flicked through the morning papers.

TED WALSH has a possible star of the future on his hands in Southern Vic, who landed a major gamble in the Mongey Communications’ Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

CHAMPION National Hunt trainer Noel Meade notched his second century of winners in a calendar year when Guantama Bay justified favouritism in the three-mile Clashwilliam Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park yesterday.

THE progressive Frances Crowley trained Haggle Twins gets the nap to take the Christmas Vouchers Novice Hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon.