Extending Cheltenham to four days has seriously diluted what’s on offer and it is very much illustrated by this afternoon’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

Bapaume claimed the scalp of Landofhopeandglory in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

ALL too few cars ever attain any sort of legendary status, vanishing into the mists of time — as they do — in a haze of exhaust fumes as noxious and unpalatable as the designs themselves.

Paul Nicholls extended his lead over Willie Mullins in a pulsating duel for the British trainers’ championship when enjoying a 54th birthday 20-1 four-timer at Wincanton yesterday.

Dual Irish champion Flat jockey Joseph O’Brien has decided not to ride at all this year and to concentrate on his new role as a trainer.

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Don Cossack is set to be one of the stars on show at the annual post-racing gallops at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Testing ground at Leopardstown last weekend proved a great leveller for many horses with Cheltenham aspirations, and the markets tumbled in many directions before settling once more in the last couple of days.

On Saturday afternoon Leopardstown hosted an Irish Gold Cup meeting which threw many Cheltenham markets into complete disarray.

Following Saturday’s victory with Coney Island, trainer Eddie Harty made it three wins from as many runners at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting when Minella Foru took the valuable Paddy Power Chase and Copy That landed a touch in the two-mile handicap hurdle on day two of the four-day festival, writes Tommy Lyons.

I have a day off today, but there is National Hunt racing at Wexford and Willie’s only runner is Pont De Alma, in the bumper.

Top Notch represents a good value bet in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, writes Tommy Lyons.

Sam Twiston-Davies is excited by the prospect of riding Rocky Creek in the Crabbie’s Grand National following his victory under a big weight at Kempton on Saturday.

Paul Carberry (41 today) showed at Leopardstown yesterday that he is as good as ever when taking the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase on Apache Stronghold.

Gordon Elliott is keen to see if he has a Triumph Hurdle horse on his hands in the shape of Vercingetorix who lines up in Sunday’s Gala Retail Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

L’Ami Serge has done "seriously well" since winning the Tolworth Hurdle and appears among 84 entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham on March 10.

A tilt at the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is far from guaranteed for Chatez despite the exciting youngster making it two from two over hurdles in impressive fashion at Warwick.

Ballyalton has been ruled out for the season after failing to fully recover from a minor injury.

Noel Meade hopes to run Galway Plate winner Road To Riches in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 1.

Hilarious, rude, not suitable for children.

Oh no, I hear you scream. No more tangerine and asphalt emulsion. Concrete and turquoise graphic nineteen fifties cushions? Tender cement eggshell?

What are you currently driving? My daily workhorse is a BMW 520D, solid and reliable and almost a complete contrast to my classic 1971 Triumph TR6 PI, last of the traditional two-seater British Sportscars, in every respect.

Ruby Walsh has clarified his views after reports he claimed horses were expendable following the death of Our Conor at Cheltenham yesterday.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki, fourth of four behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown, turned the form right around when storming to victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

Willie Mullins’ winning machine may have an enviable record but he is still pigeon-holed as the Robbie Keane of racing.

Last Instalmen headed to England yesterday as trainer Philip Fenton delayed a decision on his participation in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup until the middle of the week.

Our Conor left Dessie Hughes more than satisfied as he went through his paces in the now-traditional after-racing Cheltenham gallops at Leopardstown yesterday.

Trainer Alan King wants to run Grumeti in the Stan James Champion Hurdle following his pleasing return to action at Wincanton on Saturday.

Charles Byrnes has ruled out bringing Solwhit back in the spring and is looking forward to next season with his champion staying hurdler.

Owner Andy Stewart admits he is “terrified” ahead of the return of Big Buck’s in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Bookmakers believe My Tent Or Yours and The New One could even be sent off joint-favourites with the leading lights of the new generation proving hard to separate in Kempton’s williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle on Thursday.

What do Vladimir Putin and lingerie have in common?

IN a scene from the new female buddy cop movie, The Heat, two FBI agents — Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy — get up close and personal in a ladies loo.

Our Conor put up a scintillating display to run away with the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Trainer Nick Williams believes Thursday’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle is far from a two-horse race.

Ante-post favourite My Tent Of Yours will face 11 rivals in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Ante-post favourite My Tent Of Yours will face 11 rivals in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Last year’s winner Rock On Ruby is among a field of nine for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.