COLM MURPHY would like to see plenty of rain to tempt him to run Voler La Vedette against Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Paul Nolan is praying for plenty of rain to tempt him to run Joncol in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury later this month.

PAUL Nicholls believes Mon Parrain has to improve to break the champion trainer’s Paddy Power Gold Cup hoodoo.

COLM MURPHY is to give two of his stable stars, Big Zeb and Voler La Vedette, their first runs of the new campaign at Navan on Sunday week.

FOR the second time in a few weeks, champion jockey Pat Smullen gave Sense Of Purpose a superb, front-running ride to land a stakes prize at Leopardstown last night, the Galileo filly holding the late challenges of Marsmanship and Bob Le Beau to land the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes.

Big Zeb delighted connections in a schooling session at Leopardstown racecourse this morning as part of his preparation for the Cheltenham Festival.

PAUL Nolan is aiming to get Joncol as fit as possible in his bid to defend his crown in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 6.

PAUL Nolan reports Cuan Na Grai to be in fine shape as the 2006 Galway Hurdle winner bids to emulate Ansar and also land the big handicap chase at the meeting, the www.thetote.com Galway Plate.

Matt O’Connor faces several weeks on the sidelines after fracturing his collarbone in a fall at Thurles yesterday.

Colm Murphy is to give Big Zeb his seasonal debut in the Ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase at Navan on Sunday despite having misgivings about the likely testing conditions.

Tom Mullins could be double-handed in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday with both Oscar Dan Dan and Time Electric being considered for the Grade One contest.

Paul Nolan is hoping for drier conditions to allow him to give Cloone River a much-needed prep run on the Flat before the Punchestown Festival.

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