FOOTY FACTS is the nap choice to land the opening Killinan Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

Former Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Hairy Molly is likely to become a late addition to the novice-chasing ranks this season.

Tidal Bay is favourite for both the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the Arkle with Coral after landing a hat-trick of wins over fences in the Boylesports.com Fon-A-Bet Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

Exotic Dancer is likely to build on his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup second in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree’s feature meeting next month.

Massini’s Maguire gave the Philip Hobbs team a fine start to day two of the Cheltenham Festival when causing a 20-1 upset in the opening Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle.

COLM MURPHY is closely monitoring the weather as he looks to complete Brave Inca’s preparations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Progressive youngster Kazal is more likely to run at Thurles on Thursday than at the Cheltenham Festival the following week.

Connections of promising youngster Sir Jimmy Shand are expecting a bold show when their charge goes for gold in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Leo McGarry followed up a recent Stratford success with a comprehensive victory in the toteplacepot Novices' Hurdle at Fontwell today.

Keith Reveley wishes to bypass the Grade Two Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle with Accordello in preference to a three-mile handicap at Cheltenham 24 hours earlier.

Brit Insurance Holdings, the UK general insurance group, today announced record interim results for the first six months of this year.

COLMAN SWEENEY (22) from Castlelyons, Co Cork, rode a magnificent race to land the Christie’s Foxhunters Chase on Sleeping Night for Paul Nicholls at Cheltenham yesterday.

RULE SUPREME’S target at the Cheltenham Festival could rest on the availability of intended big-race pilot David Casey.

Willie Mullins believes ante-post favourite Missed That should be able to handle quicker conditions in next week’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

The Lloyd’s of London insurance market is still on track for a good profit in 2004 despite expected claims of around £1 billion from a spate of hurricanes, a senior market source says.