JONJO O’NEILL has raised the possibility of Synchronised running in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown rather than defending his Welsh National title over Christmas.

BIG BUCK’S will face only five rivals in the rearranged AP Wins Sports Personality Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday.

Champion staying hurdler Big Buck’s will follow an identical path to last season.

Defending champion Big Buck’s is one of 24 possibles for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 18 following the latest forfeit stage.

LAST YEAR’S winner Big Buck’s features among 35 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Last year’s winner Big Buck’s features among 35 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

NEWBURY will benefit from Ascot’s downfall by staging the Long Walk Hurdle as part of a bumper eight-race card on December 29.

Ante-post favourite Kasbah Bliss leads 14 contenders for Thursday’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Barry Geraghty admits Kasbah Bliss will be hard to beat in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle but is keen to have a crack at him with Punchestowns.

Soft-ground loving Black Apalachi earned a 33-1 quote for the John Smith’s Grand National with Ladbrokes after a superb round of jumping secured him a win over the famous fences at Aintree.

Nicky Henderson is confident the two-mile-three-furlong trip of the Coral Ascot Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday will suit Chomba Womba.

Kazal could step back up to three miles for the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot next month following his run at Navan.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is eyeing all the top staying events for Pettifour following his game success in the Grade Two John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday.

Peter Bowen believes Special Envoy deserves a change of luck in the realholidayreports.com Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock tomorrow.

Jimmy Moffatt has entered Chief Dan George for his first novice chase on Sunday - although the trainer stresses this may not mark the end of his hurdling career.

Hardy Eustace is on target for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday – and is also still under consideration for the Champion Hurdle.

Special Envoy will bid to secure a richly-deserved big-race prize in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle on December 22.

BLACK JACK KETCHUM and Inglis Drever are set for round one in what could prove a fascinating rivalry in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Mighty Man heads a field of 10 declared for the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Mighty Man, third is last season’s World Hurdle, is poised to take his chance in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace proved himself no back-number and again staked his Champion Hurdle claim with an effortless success in the Grade Two Coral Ascot Hurdle at the Berkshire track.

My Way De Solzen is set for an early-season showdown with the undefeated Black Jack Ketchum in the £40,000 (€59,450) Grade Two John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday week.

IRISH mare Asian Maze and Howard Johnson’s No Refuge head the 18 entries for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

INGLIS DREVER became the latest high-profile casualty of the New Year when he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a tendon injury yesterday.

Baracouda will miss Tuesday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow after suffering a minor setback.

MOSCOW FLYER is on course for the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday after pleasing connections in a gallop.

Baracouda will miss Tuesday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow after suffering a minor setback.

INGLIS DREVER will bid to maintain his status as champion stayer after being confirmed a definite runner in the rescheduled totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27.

Inglis Drever will bid to maintain his status as champion stayer after being confirmed a definite runner in the rescheduled totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27.

Howard Johnson was left to ponder plans for Inglis Drever after his stable star made the long journey to Windsor for the totesport Long Walk Hurdle only for the meeting to be cancelled.

Graham Lee rescued his weekend with a 6-1 treble at Musselburgh courtesy of Some Touch, Masafi – both trained by Howard Johnson for Graham Wylie – and Snowy.

Connections of Baracouda are likely to consider running in the totesport Long Walk Hurdle if the race is rescheduled.

BARACOUDA will miss the totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday after an administrative error at Francois Doumen's yard ruled the French ace out of this weekend's showpiece.

French ace Baracouda is not among the nine confirmations for the totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday.

Inglis Drever could take on Baracouda for a second time this season in Saturday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor.

JUSTIFIED, a leading candidate for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy, has been ruled of a possible engagement at Fairyhouse this weekend.

Baracouda, four-time winner of the totesport Long Walk Hurdle, heads the 18 entries for this year’s renewal at Windsor on December 17.

British runners gave the Irish a taste of their own medicine at Punchestown today as Ferdy Murphy's Carlys Quest sprung a 25-1 shock in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle.

David Casey is hoping Rule Supreme can put in a clear round of jumping in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Baracouda was the major star on show at the weekend and he did not disappoint his legion of fans with a battling display to win a thrilling Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor.

Connections of Baracouda are looking forward to the brilliant Frenchman gracing Windsor at the weekend when he bids for a fourth victory in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy faces a week off early in the New Year after being hit with a five-day suspension for improper riding at Cheltenham today.

REHEARSALS may be one thing, but even the most experienced performers can suffer first night nerves.

Warwick's meeting on Saturday is subject to an inspection at 3pm tomorrow.