Christian Williams believes I’msingingtheblues has been overlooked in the betting for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

WILLIE Mullins’ Sicilian Secret came in for plenty of support following a stylish piece of work after racing at Leopardstown yesterday and is now 4-1 favourite with William Hill and Cashmans for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Ferdy Murphy is praying for good ground at Cheltenham ahead of Kalahari King’s run in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy on Tuesday week.

Nicky Henderson broke new ground when Giorgio Quercus and Bellvano provided the master of Seven Barrows with his first winners at Musselburgh today.

Tidal Bay could conceivably run twice at the Cheltenham Festival, in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Paul Nolan’s progressive French Accordion is to be aimed towards the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy after enjoying a midwinter break.

Philip Hobbs has admitted to being “amazed” at how well Fair Along has taken to fences ahead of his bid for Irish Independent Arkle Trophy glory.

AMARETTO ROSE’S main obstacle ahead of the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle could be her lack of match practice, according to handler Nicky Henderson.

Alan King has urged punters to hold their bets regarding My Way De Solzen’s Cheltenham Festival target.

CONNECTIONS of Halcon Genelardais aim to find out if their Welsh National winner is up to totesport Gold Cup standard with an outing in the Letherby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on January 27.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies has revealed a sore shin was to blame for Fundamentalist’s poor display of jumping at Cheltenham on Saturday.

William Bonney boosted the Cheltenham Festival hopes of Tidal Bay and Kicks For Free when grinding out victory in the Betrescue antepostmag.com 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

SCHINDLERS HUNT looked a very smart novice chaser when he defeated what looked an above-average field in the Beginners Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

OUR BEN, trained by Willie Mullins, heads 30 runners in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

BRAVE INCA is strongly fancied to give Ireland a sixth success in eight runnings of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

BARRY GERAGHTY will take the ride on leading Irish Independent Arkle Trophy hope Accordion Etoile at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

My Way de Solzen appears increasingly likely to take his chance in next week’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle after further rain gladdened the spirits of trainer Alan King today.

Leading ante-post fancies Racing Demon and Accordion Etoile head the 23 confirmations for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Nicky Richards has confirmed his stable star Monet’s Garden is likely to take his chance in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy – as long as there is cut in the ground.

TONY McCOY believes his book of rides at next month’s Cheltenham Festival is shaping up to be the strongest he has had for some time.

Martin Pipe has still to decide on Our Vic’s Cheltenham Festival target after the eight-year-old’s impressive victory in the totesport Chase at Lingfield earlier this month.

Racing Demon is finally set to get his season back on track in the South-West Racing Club Novices’ Chase at Exeter on Sunday.

Macs Joy is on course for another crack at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle after bouncing back to form at Leopardstown last time.

Paul Nolan has come out of his exertions at Punchestown on Sunday in great form and remains firmly on course for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham on March 14.

Eamonn Sheehy was tonight waiting for the final results on a blood test in the hope of discovering the reason behind Justified’s disappointing run at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Nicky Richards is weighing up the options for Monet’s Garden after his exciting novice chaser was denied a run when Wednesday’s meeting at Huntingdon was abandoned.

Paul Nolan is leaning towards sending Irish Independent Arkle Trophy hope Accordion Etoile to Punchestown on February 5.

Martin Brassil will leave it late before deciding whether to run Nickname in the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Irish Independent Arkle Trophy favourite Racing Demon has been ruled out of his engagements this week after bursting an abscess on a tooth.

Irish Independent Arkle Trophy favourite Racing Demon has been ruled out of his engagements this week after bursting an abscess on a tooth.

Henrietta Knight’s Racing Demon continues his preparation for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy when facing 10 rivals in the Concha Y Toro Wines Novices’ Chase at Ludlow tomorrow.

Champion Bumper winner Missed That finished third on his debut over fences in the opening race at Thurles.

RATHGAR BEAU remains a possible contender for the William Hill - Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown on December 3 despite having the Hilly Way Chase at Cork eight days later as his main target.

Eamonn Sheehy has nominated the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 26 as the next major target for his unbeaten rising star Justified.

WAR OF ATTRITION, for many the banker of the meeting for the visitors, was sunk without trace in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham yesterday.

Contraband handed trainer Martin Pipe and owner David Johnson their second consecutive victory in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham today.

Foreman is the latest of the leading Irish Independent Arkle Trophy candidates to be ruled out of the race, after being diagnosed with colic.

Philip Hobbs is keeping a close eye on the weather as he contemplates a crack at the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy with Made In Japan.

Andy Stewart will wait to see what Kicking King’s Cheltenham Festival target is before deciding on running plans for Le Roi Miguel.

Kicking King, winner of the King George VI Chase, heads 39 entries for the inaugural Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase at Cheltenham.

Kauto Star, the hot ante-post favourite for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, has been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

Exciting Irish jumps recruit Cloone River could head to Cheltenham next month for the Grade Two November Novices’ Chase.