Tazbar can emerge an animal of the highest order by winning the Citroen C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Albertas Run, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy, won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

TWO years ago Irish steeplechasing was on a massive high, after War Of Attrition, Hedgehunter and Forget The Past had filled the first three places in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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.

Over The Creek was chopped by totesport into 16-1 for the Coral Welsh National after a bloodless victory at Hereford.

Noel Meade and Paul Carberry prolonged their run of red-hot form with a Grade One double at Fairyhouse.

Willie Mullins has his sights set on a crack at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday week with Snowy Morning.

Imperial Commander is on course for a return trip to Cheltenham after posting an impressive display on his chasing debut at the course earlier in the month.

Ferdy Murphy has his string in tip-top condition and he has his eyes set on more big prizes at the Aintree Grand National meeting.

LITTLE went right for Ruby Walsh on the opening day of the Festival, but he’s in full flow now.

LEGENDARY gambler Harry Findlay landed a massive touch when Denman produced a sensational display to overpower his rivals in the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham yesterday, writes Pat Keane.

Don’t Push It could run in the Sky Bet Press Red To Bet On ATR Novices’ Chase at Southwell on Saturday as connections ponder his Cheltenham Festival target.

Ungaro, who preserved his unbeaten record over fences with a 10-length drubbing of Boychuk at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, is to tackle the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on February 3 before any Cheltenham plans are firmed up.

PUNTERS can have a winning start at Clonmel this afternoon by supporting Mordor in the opening Cahir Maiden Hurdle.

OWNER Robert Lester hopes the new pairing of Dominic Elsworth and Iris’s Gift will prove harmonious when they tackle the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

Star De Mohaison is likely to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

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

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

ROYAL EMPEROR, each-way in the Gold Cup, is Jim Culloty’s bet of the day. Harvey and Sue Smith’s horse is definitely worth a couple of quid each-way.

His pride and joy may have failed in the race for the past three years but Michael Hourigan is hopeful Beef Or Salmon can make it fourth time lucky in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup tomorrow.

Top owner David Johnson is hoping to realise a long-held ambition when Celestial Gold takes his chance in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup tomorrow.

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.

The Listener warms up for Cheltenham by taking on four rivals in the totepool Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Lingfield tomorrow.

Jason Maguire is hoping to savour a second success at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Royal and SunAlliance Chase favourite Darkness is set to go straight to Cheltenham without a prep run.

Nicky Henderson’s Trabolgan is set to make his seasonal debut in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury rather than the Betfair Chase at Haydock next & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and is a best-priced 12-1 for the prestigious staying handicap on November 26, in which he has been allotted 11st.

Ruby Walsh has described the prospect of a clean sweep in the season’s four major Nationals as “unbelievable” just 24 hours before partnering leading chance Cornish Rebel at Ayr.

Lord Of Illusion has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival after failing to please trainer Tom George in a spin this morning.

HENRIETTA Knight and Terry Biddlecombe, the team responsible for four in-a-row Gold Cup seeking Best Mate at Cheltenham this day fortnight, head an all-star cast for the Cashmans Bookmakers Cheltenham Preview next Tuesday night.

Irish jumping legend Florida Pearl has been retired by trainer Willie Mullins at the age of 12.

The team behind Best Mate will be hoping for a third consecutive Gold Cup victory in the feature race of the annual Cheltenham Festival later today.

Leading Royal & SunAlliance Chase contender Lord Sam will miss today’s race at the Cheltenham Festival.

With doubts surrounding Back In Front’s participation in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, Irish trainer Edward O’Grady is looking to Pizarro to lead his Cheltenham Festival team.

Exciting Irish novice Nil Desperandum will have two more starts before launching his attack on Cheltenham’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase in March.

Strong Flow could to try to follow up his Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup win at Kempton Park over Christmas.

“Faugh-A-Ballagh”

It was a case of “mission accomplished” at Folkestone today as two of Paul Nicholls’ most promising performers landed convincing victories.

A meeting of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association is expected to rubber stamp a decision to pull Irish horses out of the Cheltenham Festival.