Trainer Paul Nicholls was last evening dealt a huge double injury blow by the news Big Buck’s and Al Ferof are set to miss the rest of the season.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh combined for a big Grade 1 double at Fairyhouse yesterday with Zaidpour and Arvika Ligeonniere.

The multi-talented Quevega produced a dazzling display to slam Voler La Vedette in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Series World Hurdle at Punchestown last evening.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins is planning another strong assault on next week’s Punchestown Festival, with Hurricane Fly and Quevega leading his team.

Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars, who fought out the finish to the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle last year, do battle again over two and a half miles on Saturday.

Tony McCoy will ride Burton Port in the Grade 1 Betfred Bowl at Aintree tomorrow, with Barry Geraghty sticking with Ryanair Chase winner Riverside Theatre.

THERE are two noticeable powerhouses dominating Irish racing this season - Willie Mullins and Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.

A total of just 16 possible rivals stand between Big Buck’s and a record fourth successive victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A decision on Kauto Star’s participation in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup will be made on Monday, owner Clive Smith said.

Kauto Star continues to make strides in his race to be primed for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

Kauto Star continues to make strides in his race to be primed for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

Paul Nicholls is preparing for “the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make” regarding whether to let Kauto Star take his chance in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls says the coughing which affected around a dozen horses at his Somerset stables remains under control.

TODAY at Ascot is all about Big Buck’s and his attempt to make it 14 wins in-a-row in the Long Walk Hurdle.

DAVID Pipe is excited at the prospect of Dynaste taking on the brilliant stayer Big Buck’s in the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

DAVID PIPE is intending to run Great Endeavour in the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham this weekend.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls believes Mon Parrain could be the right horse to finally fill a glaring omission from his glittering CV in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Donald McCain’s versatile performer Overturn is set to bid for Royal Ascot glory in the Queen Alexandra Stakes on Saturday week.

Ruby Walsh was once again crowned the Cheltenham Festival’s leading jockey as he signed off this year’s showpiece meeting with five winners.

ALL 14 confirmations for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle have stood their ground at the declaration stage, including leading lights Big Buck’s and Grands Crus.

GRANDS CRUS may appear to be half-asleep for much of his time at David Pipe’s stables but there could be no doubting his place as the star attraction at his trainer’s press morning yesterday.

IT SEMES like an eternity since I smashed my leg at Down Royal way back on November 6, but I’m now ready and raring to go and the only question is what day will I return next week.

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES’ two big Cheltenham Festival hopes, Imperial Commander and Khyber Kim, are to work before racing at Kempton on Saturday.

PAUL NICHOLLS is hopeful a breathing operation will help Denman produce a better finishing effort when he goes for further Cheltenham Gold Cup glory next month.

Paul Nicholls is hopeful a breathing operation will help Denman produce a better finishing effort when he goes for further Cheltenham Gold Cup glory next month.

BIG BUCK’S and Grands Crus remain on course for a mouthwatering clash in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after their names appeared among 34 remaining entries following the latest forfeit stage.

NICKY Henderson’s Punchestowns bids to get his season back on track in the 40% Better Off On Betfair SP Graduation Chase at Kempton today.

Big Buck’s is the standout name among 46 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17.

HENRY de Bromhead is targeting Loosen My Load at the new two-and-a-half-mile novice chase at Cheltenham following his run at Leopardstown two weeks ago.

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

Big Buck’s will face six rivals in his bid to land back-to-back victories in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Punchestowns will reappear in the Future Stars Chase at Sandown on December 3.

FOR a while there, it looked like War of Attrition might just pull off what would have been a heart-warming and unlikely postscript to a storied career in yesterday’s featured World Hurdle.

ASTONISHING, awesome, extraordinary are just a trio of words you could use to describe the sheer power Tony McCoy produced to land Albertas Run a winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

INSTEAD of teaming up with the likes of Big Buck’s, Pepe Simo and Big Fella Thanks at Ascot today, I will be spending the afternoon at home.

I THINK it will take an extraordinary display by Denman if he is to defy top weight in the Hennessy at Newbury today.

THE million dollar question at Listowel today is can I win my fourth Kerry National?

Henry Daly reports Mighty Man to be in fine form following his fantastic comeback from injury in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham a week ago.

Kauto Star has run his final race of the campaign after reclaiming his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup crown, but trainer Paul Nicholls has raised the tantalising possibility of him tackling the blue riband for another three years.

AND so things return to normality. For the first two days of the festival the bookies here took a dreadful hammering — losses were being calculated upwards by the million as each race passed – and by the end of trading on Wednesday conservative estimates of the bookies’ losses across the industry were being estimated at about £25m.

Denman and Kauto Star feature among 28 horses left in the £475,000 (€527,000) totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the latest forfeit stage.

Oslot has been left at the head of the weights for Saturday’s Boylesports.com Gold Cup on Saturday – for which red-hot favourite Imperial Commander is also one of 19 left in.

PAUL NICHOLLS reports ante-post favourite Big Buck’s to be in fine shape ahead of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Saturday.