Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere is on course to have his final outing before the defence of his Cheltenham crown in Sunday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, where he will face eight possible rivals.

All roads lead back to the Cheltenham Festival for Hidden Cyclone after Shark Hanlon’s pride and joy enjoyed his day in the sun with a fine front-running display in the Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

Monbeg Dude makes a belated last public appearance ahead of the Crabbie’s Grand National when he lines-up for the William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster this afternoon.

White Star Line, Planet Of Sound and Merry King are three of the 15 horses to have been taken out of the Crabbie’s Grand National at the latest forfeit stage.

The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse is Richard Lee’s preferred target for his Welsh Grand National hero Mountainous.

Willie Mullins plans to run Smashing in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

Bryan Cooper and Dessie Hughes shared a New Year’s Day double in Fairyhouse as Lieutenant Colonel and Off The Charts powered to emphatic victories.

Dessie Hughes’ Wise Oscar is the nap choice in the Happy St Valentine’s Day Handicap Chase on a moderate six-race card at Thurles this afternoon, should the meeting survive an 8am inspection.

Owner Graham Wylie insists Tidal Bay will not run in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March if “the ground is good or faster”.

There are several important reasons for Le Beau Bai to head to Sandown with a decent chance in today’s Bet365 Gold Cup.

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.

No match for the classy So Young at Navan and back in novice company, 140-rated Trifolium ran out an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Lucinda Russell’s high-class chaser Silver By Nature has been ruled out of the current campaign with a leg injury.

Last year’s winner Synchronised will have to defy top weight of 11st 12lb if he is to land back-to-back victories in the totesport.com Midlands Grand National Chase at Uttoxeter today.

Silver By Nature has been given the go-ahead to run in the John Smith’s Grand National following discussions between owners Geoff and Joyce Brown, trainer Lucinda Russell and her partner, former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore.

NACARAT has been left to shoulder top weight should he make his third consecutive appearance in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

Silver By Nature defied top weight in determined fashion to win the totesport.com Grand National Trial for the second year running at Haydock.

WILLIE MULLINS is a phenomenon. That five-timer at Punchestown last Sunday, from just six races, was a remarkable feat and emphasised that, at least in this country, he operates on a different level to all other trainers.

Le Beau Bai may try to improve on his third place in the big three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Haydock on February 19.

MOUSE Morris’ Recital Public is the one to beat in the Urlingford Maiden Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

Big Zeb’s Champion Chase aspirations were realigned courtesy of a highly impressive performance at Punchestown.

SEAMUS LYNCH’S Itsallaracket is the nap choice in the EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Downpatrick this afternoon.

QUEVEGA will be aimed at the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham following her impressive seasonal debut victory in the Book The Punchestown Pavilion At The Festival Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

ARBOR SUPREME is the one to beat in the featured Powers’ Ulster Grand National EBF Handicap Chase at Downpatrick this afternoon.

David Casey believes Teeming Rain is capable of a bold show if he contests the totesport.com Eider Chase at Newcastle on Saturday.

Charlie Swan could have two runners in Saturday’s totesport.com Eider at Newcastle, with both Teeming Rain and What A Native entered for the marathon contest.

AFISTFULLOFDOLLARS gets the nap to complete a hat-trick in the thurlesraces.ie Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.