It’s the weekend between the Irish Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, but it’s another busy and important one. I have three rides this afternoon at Fairyhouse, but it’s Douvan, in the Tied Cottage Chase tomorrow at Punchestown, who will be focus of most attention.

Just two rides today, but they’re good ones, and I start off with Valseur Lido in the JNWine Chase at Down Royal. 

Point to point winner Road To Respect is yet to make the breakthrough after three runs on the racecourse, but Eoin Griffin’s five-year-old can right that wrong in the two-mile-six Cashel Maiden Hurdle this afternoon at Thurles.

Foxrock will be supplemented for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after owner Barry Connell ruled out a tilt at the Gold Cup.

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Vautour, Clarcam and Valseur Lido all appear among a classy entry of 10 for the Leopardstown Killiney Novice Chase on Sunday.

Versatile veteran He’llberemembered, ridden by Jonathan Burke, was awarded the featured Free Festival Upgrade Ticket Offer Hurdle in bizarre circumstances in Punchestown yesterday.

Colm Murphy faces a race against time to ready The Westener Boy for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. The seven-year-old missed the majority of 2013 after picking up an injury when falling in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran, for which he was joint-favourite, and returned to action over hurdles earlier this year.

Colm Murphy faces a race against time to ready The Westener Boy for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

The Tullow Tank will have his first race for Dessie Hughes in a beginners’ chase at the end of this month.

Cillian’s Return, sporting the J P McManus colours for the first time, can land the 20-runner Michael Maher Building And Construction Services Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary tonight.

The Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase proved a major anti-climax in Punchestown yesterday as the Willie Mullins-trained Arvika Ligeonniere coasted to an effortless nine lengths win over 2011 winner Rubi Light.

Tony McCoy admitted he found it tough to choose the Ted Walsh-trained Colbert Station over Sunnyhillboy in tomorrows John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

The Willie Mullins-trained Mozoltov booked his ticket to Cheltenham when getting the better of favourite Don Cossack in a tremendous tussle for the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

Jadanli will attempt to go two places better than last year in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran on January 24.

Sizing Europe claimed his third win of the season and his seventh Grade One victory in all with another fine display in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.

Mouse Morris is set to saddle both Hennessy Gold Cup third First Lieutenant and the returning China Rock in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

JP McManus has a strong hand in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National with ante-post 8-1 favourite Groody Hill set to be joined by his Cheltenham Festival winner Alfie Sherrin and Pertemps Final runner-up Catch Me at Fairyhouse on April 9.

HAVING missed the ‘cut’ for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, the Ted Walsh-trained Seabass gained a degree of compensation when making virtually all the running to land the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick yesterday.

A cracking renewal of the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day is in prospect.

Denman appeared among 17 contenders for the Lexus Chase as the entries for the major races at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival were published.

Groody Hill capped a red-letter day for owner JP McManus with a last-gasp victory in the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.

AFTER years of trying, Tony McCoy finally earned the Grand National victory he so desperately sought when he and Don't Push It emerged victorious in 2010.

DERMOT WELD is to have his first Grand National runner for 16 years after confirming Majestic Concorde a definite starter in the John Smith’s-sponsored showpiece at Aintree on Saturday.

COUNTY CLARE owner/trainer Noel Glynn is set to launch a double assault at Aintree next week, with Becauseicouldntsee and Gonebeyondrecall on course to take on the famous National fences at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

THE Irish challenge for tomorrow’s Coral Welsh National has been severely depleted with Becauseicouldntsee being ruled out and compatriot Lochan Lacha a “doubtful” runner.

Mikael D’haguenet was sunk without trace in the Grade 1 Bord na Mona With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday, victory going to Realt Dubh.

Hurricane Fly is now William Hill’s outright Champion Hurdle favourite following his comprehensive defeat of old nemesis Solwhit in the paddypower.com iPhone App Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Noel Glynn is weighing up the options for Becauseicouldntsee following his satisfactory return to action over hurdles last month.

Jack The Bus (9-1) outpointed Glenquest in a hard-fought finish to the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan this afternoon.

MASTER MINDED may be odds on to claim his hat-trick in the Queen Mother’s Champion Chase this afternoon, but two men fielding Irish raiders believe that to be far from a foregone conclusion.

John Cullen steps in for the injured Andrew McNamara as Preists Leap bids to land the Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase for the third year running at Gowran Park tomorrow.

TOM HOGAN intends running both last year’s third Silver Jaro and Kirkbybroguelantern, who is dropping back to two miles, in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Michael Hourigan plans to keep A New Story as busy as possible with an outing in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Leopardstown this Sunday.

Davy Fitzgerald has decided to keep Operation Houdini at home in Ireland on Saturday for the Paddy Power Chase rather than contesting the Coral Welsh National.

ROBERT Tyner plans to be double-handed with Callherwhatulike and The Halfway Bar in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

Eoin Doyle is looking for a repeat performance from No Full in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown later this month.