This afternoon’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase could hardly be more puzzling for punters, the essential difficulty not in reading the form, but gauging/guessing the well-being of the market leaders, Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy.

Gordon Elliott reports Don Cossack to be “bouncing” ahead of his bid to cap a fantastic season in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next month.

What is left to say about the extraordinary Hurricane Fly, one off the greatest National Hunt horses of all time?

An ambitious tilt at the Champion Hurdle could come under consideration for Kitten Rock if he can continue his winning run in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas today.

Willie Mullins thinks Faugheen (pictured) has made "extraordinary" progress ahead of his latest big-race assignment in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Friday

I’m sure most people are delighted with the mild and dry weather we have been experiencing for a while now, but for those of us in the racing game, at least the National Hunt end of things, it is really annoying.

After Faugheen had won in a canter at Punchestown on Tuesday, the bookmakers wasted no time introducing him into the Champion Hurdle market.

Stan James Champion Hurdle

Dunguib is on course to have his second comeback run this weekend at either Gowran Park or Navan, meaning he could clash with Champion Hurdle dark horse Un De Sceaux.

Trainer Mouse Morris has confirmed Rule The World will head straight for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March following his impressive display at Naas on Saturday.

Bookmakers believe My Tent Or Yours and The New One could even be sent off joint-favourites with the leading lights of the new generation proving hard to separate in Kempton’s williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle on Thursday.

Having had a half-decent wager on Hurricane Fly in last year’s Champion Hurdle, I resolved immediately after the contest never to back him to win the race again.

Nicky Henderson insists Grandouet remains on course for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday despite taking an alarming drift on the betting exchanges yesterday afternoon.

Nicky Henderson endured another frustrating morning yesterday but after finally getting to gallop Simonsig, he described the grey’s work as “simply fantastic”.

Oliver Sherwood is weighing up his options for Puffin Billy after a planned racecourse gallop at Newbury this morning was cancelled due to frost.

We were absolutely delighted with Steps To Freedom at Dundalk last Friday when he really was a very good boy. It was a perfect way to come back after such a long lay-off due to the poor ground.

The record books show that Paul Nicholls has won all four championship races at the Cheltenham Festival. A brilliant feat, no doubt.

Ruby Walsh gets his challenge to be named top festival jockey at Cheltenham for a fifth successive time underway today on board Prospect Wells in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Tomorrow’s meeting at Sandown has been abandoned due to a frozen track.

Boston Bob looked a future star in the making when running out a most impressive winner of the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh this afternoon.

Noel Meade is confident Pandorama will be ready for action when the National Hunt season kicks into gear after recovering from an injury sustained in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Legendary stayer Big Buck’s features among 19 entries for the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday.

Menorah and Hurricane Fly share favouritism with the sponsors for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday following the shock absence of Binocular.

Imperial Commander continues to please Nigel Twiston-Davies ahead of his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup defence on Friday.

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

NICKY HENDERSON is worried the weather might scupper the planned return of reigning Champion Hurdle hero Binocular at Newcastle on Saturday.

Bothy is likely to bid for compensation in The Ladbroke at Ascot next month granted suitable conditions following his sterling effort at Cheltenham.

This afternoon’s Kelso’s fixture, featuring the appearance of leading Champion Hurdle hope Zaynar, has been given the go-ahead following a second inspection.

Tomorrow’s meeting at Kelso will have to survive a 7am inspection if it is to go ahead.

IT isn’t very often a horse heads to the racecourse seeking a four-timer, gets beaten and emerges with reputation not just intact, but enhanced.

SOLWHIT, a top-priced 6-1 with most firms yesterday for the Champion Hurdle, can live his Cheltenham prospects a major boost by landing the Tohiba-sponsored Irish equivalent at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Solwhit served further notice of his Champion Hurdle claims with a feisty triumph in the Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

HARRY FINDLAY says Denman will win the Cheltenham Gold Cup ‘pulling a cart.’

Dunguib (30-100 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record over timber in effortless style when winning the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

BOOKMAKERS reported mixed fortunes after a closely-matched first-day jousting between the layers and punters.

The last four winners of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle could reoppose at the Cheltenham Festival as Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit are among 34 possibles for this year’s renewal

A decision is expected tomorrow on the re-scheduling of the Boylesports.com International Hurdle.

BINOCULAR is likely to start at prohibitive odds as he bids to show he is Champion Hurdle material on his first run of the season at Haydock today.

Snap Tie has been handed top weight for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week following his impressive seasonal bow.

David Pipe will bide his time before deciding which path Champion Hurdle runner-up Osana will go down next season.

Jack The Giant slayed the bookmakers as the result of a monumental gamble in The Ladbroke at Ascot.