Two rides at Fairyhouse today and four at Punchestown tomorrow make up my weekend, says Ruby Walsh.

Sprinter Sacre, the undoubted star of National Hunt racing, will face just four rivals in tomorrow's Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown.

BOOKMAKERS are generally rather coy about admitting they have had a good day, or a good meeting, but this week a number accepted that Leopardstown at Christmas had been rather tasty for them.

Hurricane Fly bids to lay a ghost to rest after finally making an elusive first trip to Cheltenham to contest today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Officials at Cheltenham remain confident this week’s two-day fixture will go ahead as scheduled as the cold weather continues to tighten its grip on National Hunt racing.

CLERK of the course Simon Claisse is confident this week’s two-day fixture at Cheltenham will beat the cold snap after officials began covering the entire track.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse is confident this week’s two-day fixture at Cheltenham will beat the cold snap after officials began covering the entire track.

Dougie Costello enjoyed a red-letter day at Cheltenham with a 28-1 double at the home of National Hunt racing today.

Mick Kinane is hoping he can help drum up further interest in the Irish Flat scene after being named Horse Racing Ireland’s Flat Ambassador for 2010.

Anquetta won the opener at Southwell as National Hunt racing finally awoke from its snow-stricken slumber.

HORSE Racing Ireland officials have acted quickly to transfer tomorrow’s abandoned Leopardstown meeting to Saturday, January 23.

With the cold snap continuing the decimate the racing fixture list, the British Horseracing Authority have moved to lessen the damage by adding three further all-weather fixtures for next week.

ON Monday morning a large number of the press corps made their way to Co. Carlow for a 10.30am rendezvous with Willie Mullins.

Cheltenham supremo Edward Gillespie poured cold water on the prediction from Racecourse Association chairman David Thorpe that sponsorship could fall by 40% in 2009.

The inclement weather continues to cause headaches for track officials up and down the UK, as the prospect of another day without National Hunt racing tomorrow looms large.

New finishing distances and amendments to the way they are calculated will be introduced by the British Horseracing Authority on Monday.

Cheltenham officials are confident next week’s four-day Festival will beat the weather – despite meetings lost due to waterlogging almost on a daily basis over the entire country.

Kicking King lapped up the attention this morning as the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was given a rapturous welcome at his County Kildare base.

Manchester United fans are planning a major protest against their club’s principal shareholders John Magnier (pictured) and JP McManus at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

HOPES of a quick resumption of jump racing todayfollowing the abandonment of yesterday’s cards due to the cold snap rest on early morning inspections.

Hopes of a quick resumption of jump racing tomorrow following the abandonment of today’s cards due to the cold snap rest on early morning inspections.

Leopardstown racecourse today announced a new sponsorship agreement with Lexus Ireland which means the premium car marque will back the prestigious contest previously known as the Ericsson Chase.

THE message is simple, give them what they want and they will arrive in droves.

National Hunt racing continues to be decimated by the wet weather with Saturday’s fixtures at Sandown Park and Newcastle both washed-out following inspections today.