Theatre Queen is set to turn out quickly for next week’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following her remarkable effort in defeat at Doncaster on Saturday.

Ruby Walsh has promised that his head will rule his heart when it comes to making a decision on whether to ride Hurricane Fly or Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next Tuesday.

Champion amateur Derek O’Connor recorded 1,000 wins in point-to-points when successful on Death Duty at Cragmore in County Limerick, yesterday.

Adrian Maguire is undecided as to whether to let Two Rockers make his Irish Rules debut in Sunday’s Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

Pat Fahy has been forced to abandon plans to bring Morning Assembly back in time for the major spring Festivals.

Willie Mullins is set to unleash yet another hugely exciting novice chasing prospect at Thurles on Thursday in the shape of Un De Sceaux.

John Thomas McNamara, who was paralysed in a fall at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, was in the intensive care unit of Limerick Regional Hospital last night, having been taken ill the previous day.

Connections of CGA Foxhunter Chase favourite Mossey Joe have not yet made a final decision on whether the veteran will line up at the Cheltenham Festival.

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.

Old rivals Salsify and Tammys Hill will do battle again in the Albert Bartlett Hunters Chase at Down Royal on Thursday.

Jim Bolger admits it is “more than likely” his 2000 Guineas hero Dawn Approach will be allowed to take his chance in the Investec Derby at Epsom next month.

Foxhunter Chase favourite Backstage remains firmly on course for next month’s Cheltenham Festival following his sixth victory in the point-to-point sphere this season at the weekend.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies rounded off a wonderful day when Baby Run ran the opposition ragged to take the Christis's Foxhunter Chase.

Ruby Walsh is excited about the prospect of teaming up with Denman in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup, despite the fact he is forced to carry top weight.

Robert Alner is due to undergo surgery later tonight after being injured in a serious car crash near his base in Dorset, England.

WE can dress it up anyway we want, but one has to conclude this was a desperately disappointing Cheltenham for Irish horses.

ON FEBRUARY 8, 1998, Imperial Call ran his final race under the guidance of Fergie Sutherland, who had famously trained him to success in the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

WHAT makes a Gold Cup horse? Plenty of things, really, but stamina and high cruising speed are the basics.

Owner David Johnson has admitted he is having “second thoughts” about running Cheltenham disappointment Lord Atterbury in the Martell Cognac Grand National.

Sheltering and Heezapistol booked their passages to the Cheltenham Festival when winning at Punchestown on testing ground.