RULE SUPREME will run over hurdles at Aintree today after Willie Mullins decided the ground was likely to be too fast for his Irish Hennessy winner to tackle the chase course.

Rule Supreme will run over hurdles at Aintree tomorrow after Willie Mullins decided the ground was likely to be too fast for his Irish Hennessy winner to tackle the chase course.

Howard Johnson’s decision to resist a tempting engagement in the John Smith’s Grand National with Grey Abbey could reap a rich dividend tomorrow when the 11-year-old lines up for the Betfair Bowl.

KICKING King’s victory in the Gold Cup was enough to convince me that he has what it takes to dominate the blue riband of the Cheltenham Festival for many years to come.

KICKING KING gets my vote to reign in the Gold Cup this afternoon.

IT is now or never for Beef Or Salmon.

THE Cheltenham Gold Cup, like most of the rest of the Festival races, is not a happy hunting ground for favourites, with only five having won it in the last 20 years — two of them coming from the unfortunate Best Mate.

THE almost legendary Baracouda failed in his bid to become the first horse to win three Ladbrokes’ World Hurdles (formerly the Stayers’) when going down by three lengths to the four years younger Inglis Drever at Cheltenham yesterday.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Rule Supreme can have Irish eyes smiling on St Patrick’s Day by landing the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Philip Hobbs has supplemented Farmer Jack for next Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at a cost of £17,500 (€25,000).

KICKING KING in and Best Mate out is the latest twist to next Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

BEEF OR SALMON faces a crucial gallop this morning, as the build-up to Cheltenham gathers pace.

Rule Supreme pulled off a surprise victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown as he shocked odds-on favourite Beef Or Salmon.

Bad knocks? David Casey knows all about the routine.

Michael Hourigan's Beef Or Salmon is odds-on to boost his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup prospects with victory at Leopardstown on Sunday.

David Casey is hoping to return to the saddle by the start of next month.

Baracouda was the major star on show at the weekend and he did not disappoint his legion of fans with a battling display to win a thrilling Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor.

JIM CULLOTY returns from a seven-week lay-off through injury with a ride at Exeter today.

Willie Mullins planning at crack at Saturday’s Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor with Rule Supreme.

Solerina gave a brilliant front-running performance to win the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle for the second successive year.

HARDY EUSTACE, current favourite in most lists for the Champion Hurdle, will miss his planned comeback at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Willie Mullins' Rule Supreme returned to action after his French Champion Hurdle win and put up a gritty performance to land the Prior Park Service Station Clonmel Handicap Hurdle.

Beef Or Salmon bids to end his campaign on a high in the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup tomorrow.

Beef Or Salmon is 6-4 favourite with Paddy Power for the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup on Wednesday.

SHARDAM’S position at the head of the market for tomorrow’s Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown strengthened yesterday, with Ladbrokes cutting the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding into 7-2 from 4s for the £150,000 showpiece.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins will delay making a decision on the participation of Rule Supreme and Alexander Banquet in the Betfred Gold Cup until later in the week.

SUPERB riding performances, which yielded each of them a Cheltenham winner, has won jockeys David Casey and Robert Widger the accolade of joint Park Hotel Waterford Sport Star of the Month for March.

IRISH bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Willie Mullins' Rule Supreme struck for the Irish on St Patrick's Day by springing a 25-1 surprise in an eventful Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

JIM CULLOTY will team up with Total Enjoyment, a first ever runner at the Festival for Tralee trainer Tom Cooper in the Cheltenham Bumper next week.

BEST MATE remains odds-on across the board to win an historic third Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup following the publication of the entries yesterday.

Best Mate heads the 32 entries revealed today for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, which takes place on March 18.