Detroit City became the second high-profile fatality within a week when the Philip Hobbs-trained grey tragically suffered a bad fall at Ascot.

Dual Champion Hurdle hero Hardy Eustace heads a smart field of eight as he bids for back-to-back victories in the Coral Ascot Hurdle at the English venue tomorrow.

Detroit City is on target to begin a fresh campaign at Ascot later this month.

PHILIP Hobbs is hoping lightning can strike twice as he sends out Fair Along in Saturday’s totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Frankie Dettori will team up with Full House for the first time in Saturday’s totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Alan King’s Katchit will bid to complete the double achieved by Detroit City last season when he lines up in the John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle at Aintree tomorrow.

NEWLY-CROWNED Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Voy Por Ustedes is likely to have run his last race this season.

Detroit City will try to redeem his reputation following his Cheltenham flop in the Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle next month.

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.

COMING to this theatre of racing dreams with favoured horses is always something of a double-edged sword and Philip Hobbs yesterday slipped and fell on the sharp edge of that particular weapon when hot-pots Fair Along and Detroit City failed to live up to expectations.

TWO magnificent timber-toppers in Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace may now be in decline, but there’s a new kid on the block from Ireland called Sublimity, who showed a devastating turn of foot to land the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at sun-drenched Cheltenham yesterday.

Bookmakers were purring following day one of the Cheltenham Festival after several well-backed favourites were turned over.

COLM MURPHY is not expecting the ground to be a major stumbling block to Brave Inca as he prepares to defend his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle title.

PHILIP Hobbs’ Detroit City, the main British hope, heads the betting at 2-1 following yesterday’s defection of both Macs Joy and Harchibald.

PHILIP HOBBS has taken no chances with the health of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City, who is stabled separately from the rest of his yard, despite sparkling in his last big workout yesterday morning.

CONOR O’DWYER, on the eve of his 41st birthday, believes if he is to ride a winner at Cheltenham next week it will be Hardy Eustace in the Champion Hurdle.

Dessie Hughes is bullish about the chances of Hardy Eustace regaining his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham.

Detroit City is reported to be in top form following his workmanlike victory in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown.

TONY McCOY is hoping to expose any chinks in the armour of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown this afternoon.

Harchibald will not run against Detroit City and Straw Bear in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

THE AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday, won in some style by the great Hardy Eustace, was surely the best contest ever run over flights in this country!

Colm Murphy could not be happier with Brave Inca’s preparation for his defence of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow.

Irish-trained horses make up more than half of the 28 entries for this year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Hardy Eustace will bypass the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29 as connections favour a crack at the AIG Champion Hurdle the following month.

Detroit City, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Richard Johnson, won the boylesports.com International at Cheltenham.

Dessie Hughes laid down the gauntlet to connections of young pretender Detroit City ahead of Hardy Eustace’s return to Cheltenham this weekend.

Philip Hobbs declared Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City to be bang “on course” for the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham on Saturday.

COLM MURPHY is weighing up the options for stable star Brave Inca after he made a satisfactory return at Punchestown on Sunday.

NOEL MEADE has moved to silence the doubters after Iktitaf’s victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Noel Meade has moved to silence the doubters after Iktitaf's victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Owner Terry Warner has confirmed Detroit City to be firmly on course for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week.

Ante-post favourite Detroit City heads a field of 32 declared for Saturday’s totesport Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Detroit City will not bid for a Festival hat-trick after owner Terry Warner decided not to tackle Friday’s tote.ie Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown.

Detroit City and Fair Along gave trainer Philip Hobbs a one-two in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

WHAT makes a Gold Cup horse? Plenty of things, really, but stamina and high cruising speed are the basics.

Richard Johnson has high hopes for ante-post favourites Monkerhostin and Mighty Man at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Justified is set to tackle the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup at Leopardstown later in the month after a successful trip to Newbury.

EAMONN SHEEHY’S first visit to Newbury yesterday ended in success as Arkle Chase contender Justified ran out a comfortable winner under Tony McCoy.

Smart Flat performer Detroit City is set to make his hurdling bow at either Warwick or Sandown next week.