DARYL JACOB insists he feels under no extra pressure ahead of The Listener’s engagement in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at the weekend.

Jazz Messenger and Iktitaf have both returned sound from their assault on Sunday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle but Noel Meade feels the latter might have been compromised by an infection.

Hardy Eustace produced a power-packed display to fight off reigning champion Brave Inca in a hotly-contested renewal of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

TOM MULLINS will walk the track before deciding whether to let his stable star Asian Maze take her chance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Champion Hurdler Brave Inca will face a maximum of eight rivals in what looks a fascinating renewal of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Tony McCoy is not worried about the lack of numbers for Brave Inca as he attempts to win the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle for the second successive year at Punchestown tomorrow.

Francois Doumen believes Baracouda is as good as last year ahead of his bid to go one better in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and claim the Cheltenham’s stayers’ championship for a third time tomorrow.

Moscow Flyer is on course to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title after pleasing connections in a schooling session after racing at Leopardstown.

Dual Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace could face eight rivals if he lines up in the Grade Two Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on Saturday.

Golden Cross will seek to enhance his growing reputation in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Golden Cross will seek to enhance his growing reputation in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

COLM MURPHY hopes to know more in the next week about the prospects of his unbeaten Feathard Lady making it to Cheltenham for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Colm Murphy hopes to know more in the next week about the prospects of his unbeaten Feathard Lady making it to Cheltenham for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Colm Murphy has issued an upbeat bulletin on Feathard Lady after X-rays on her injured leg came back clear.

Brave Inca and Harchibald are set to clash in a mouth-watering renewal of the Maple Development Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

This afternoon’s meeting at Leopardstown, which features the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at 2.45, will go ahead after passing a 7.30am inspection.

GEORGES GIRL, with the conditions of the contest in her favour, has to be fancied to land the featured Grade Two Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon, on a card which sees Grand National hero, Monty’s Pass, return to action over flights.

SOLERINA is far from a certain runner in Sunday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

CHELTENHAM Festival heroine, Like-A-Butterfly, is out for the season.

TIMMY MURPHY, riding at the very top of his form, will again team up with market leader Beef Or Salmon in Sunday’s 92,900 to the winner Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Like-A-Butterfly just got up in the shadow of the post to land today's feature event at Leopardstown - the Grade One AIG Europe Champion Hurdle.

Paddy Power make Like-A-Butterfly their new market leader for the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday after the defection of Intersky Falcon, who was declared a non-runner by trainer Jonjo O’Neill on Thursday.

PADDY POWER make Like-A-Butterfly their new market leader for the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday after the defection of Intersky Falcon, who was yesterday declared a non-runner by trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

Jockey Charlie Swan paid tribute to three times Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq after he was officially retired today.

Istabraq is set to be retired after his bid for a record fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle victory ended in anti-climax today.

Istabraq may not run again until bidding for an unprecedented fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle victory, his trainer Aidan O’Brien has revealed.

Istabraq has won his fourth consecutive AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.