Quevega remains on course to bid for a historic sixth consecutive victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after starring among 24 entries for the Grade Two contest.

Quevega remains on course to bid for an historic sixth consecutive victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after starring among 24 entries for the Grade Two contest.

Crabbie’s Grand National entry Goonyella is to have his first start of the year in Thursday’s Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

Boston Bob is all set to take in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran on Thursday as he builds-up to challenge for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Long odds-on favourite Briar Hill brushed aside the challenge of sole rival Azorian to land the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle in Navan yesterday.

I have only two rides this afternoon and I start off on Alonso who will be the first Spanish-bred horse I've ever ridden. If I've ever ridden one before, I certainly don't recall it.

I have just five rides over the next two days, but this could still be a great weekend. What it really comes down to is whether I can win the Betfair Chase at Haydock today aboard Silviniaco Conti.

The highly-regarded Back In Focus takes to fences for the first time under Rules in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase at Listowel on Thursday.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill is keen for Synchronised to attempt to become just the second horse in history to land the John Smith’s Grand National and the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.

Seabass and Felix Yonger provided Ruby Walsh with a superb Grade 2 double at Naas yesterday.

WHEN Howard Johnson retired from training in England his principal patrons, Graham and Andrea Wylie, decided to send a batch of horses to Willie Mullins.

BOSTON Bob and Zaidpour provided Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh with a big-race double at Navan yesterday, where the three scheduled chases were belatedly cancelled due to patches of frozen ground.

FORMER two-mile champion Big Zeb and classy mare Volver La Vedette provided trainer Colm Murphy with a superb Grade 2 double when making successful seasonal debuts in Navan yesterday.

One-time Derby aspirant Washington Irving takes the next step along the road to forging a new career for himself in the totepool Premier Kelso Hurdle.

Howard Johnson has a fine record at Carlisle and was on the mark yet again when Hockenheim ran out an easy winner of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre Beginners' Chase.

Inglis Drever is to be primed for next month’s Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham - where he is likely come up against the unbeaten Black Jack Ketchum.

Pat Keane

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.

WAR OF ATTRITION, for many the banker of the meeting for the visitors, was sunk without trace in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham yesterday.