Ruby Walsh has come in for the plum ride on Zarkandar in Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle after a change to the Newbury card which allows the rider to defer a suspension that originally ruled him out of action this weekend.

Defending champion Hurricane Fly is among 27 horses entered for the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13.

PAUL NOLAN expects the testing ground to suit Joncol in Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

WILLIE Mullins completed a notable one-two in the €100,000 MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday when the well-backed Final Approach, owned by race- sponsor Douglas Taylor, outpointed stable-companion Call The Police.