Double Irish is among those trying to earn a trip to the Cheltenham Festival in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel today.

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.

Willie Mullins is keen to find out where Upazo ranks in his talented crop of novice hurdlers by letting him line up in the williamhill.com Levy Board Tolworth Hurdle at Kempton this afternoon.

Briar Hill appears likely to go up in trip when he returns to the Cheltenham Festival in March following his rather workmanlike victory in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

It really was the proverbial white-knuckle ride. Monday, at around 4.45pm, we landed at Birmingham Airport to be greeted by snow cascading from a grim sky. More of the white stuff accompanied us as we made our way up to Cheltenham.

Mouse Morris insists it is “50-50” whether First Lieutenant contests the Ryanair Chase or the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup at next week’s Festival.

Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly to be in fine form following his impressive Irish Champion Hurdle victory.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has unearthed another gem in The New One, whose bloodless success at Warwick has fuelled understandable Cheltenham Festival dreams.

Cheltenham is very much on the minds of connections of both Hurricane Fly and Taquin De Seuil as Grade One victories on Saturday put them firmly in the championship mix.

The Barry Geraghty-Nicky Henderson alliance was further cemented when they combined for two brilliant successes with Bobs Worth and Simonsig, to go with Finian’s Rainbow’s gutsy victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Sizing Europe and Big Zeb, the first two home in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase last year, are on course for a rematch at Cheltenham next Wednesday.

Kauto Star continues to make strides in his race to be primed for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

Rubi Light pleased connections in a racecourse spin at the Curragh yesterday as he continued his preparation for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Groody Hill capped a red-letter day for owner JP McManus with a last-gasp victory in the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.

TWO of Jessica Harrington’s brightest jumping prospects have been confirmed for next month’s valuable meeting at Down Royal.

First Lieutenant pulled victory from out of the fire with a narrow verdict over Rock On Ruby in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

IF there was one horse to take out of Leopardstown last Saturday, with the future very much in mind, it was surely the Jessica Harrington-trained Oscars Well.

IF Tranquil Sea wins the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 18, there seems little doubt connections will look back at Leopardstown last Sunday as having played a massive part in the success.

Quel Esprit has been the subject of a gamble that has seen him leap to the head of the betting for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.