Un De Sceaux attempts to live up to his billing as the most exciting novice chaser around when he lines up for the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham today.

It was smashing to ride at Galway on Monday, having missed the previous two festivals.

Owner Clive Smith believes a decision on whether Master Minded will race again may not be made for another year.

Clive Smith is not living in false hope over the chances of Master Minded racing again – although the owner feels it is not an impossibility just yet.

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.

NOEL Meade has confirmed that his brilliant hurdler Harchibald has run his last race.

Well Chief received the universal backing of the bookmaking industry for the 2010 Queen Mother Champion Chase after slamming dual Cheltenham Festival winner Master Minded in the Connaught Chase.

INJURY-PLAGUED Well Chief received a hero’s welcome after defying his advancing years to lower the colours of Master Minded in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

Master Minded successfully defended his Seasons Holidays Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham to become the first horse since Viking Flagship in 1995 to retain the two-mile championship.

Alan King can hope for continued support from powerful owner John Hales after coaxing a first career win from Cracboumwiz at Newbury.

Zaynar showed the market whispers to be right on the mark at Newbury as an emphatic jumping debut moved the grey to clear favourite in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

TWIST MAGIC can give weight and a beating to all of his rivals in the William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter today.

Paul Nicholls hurls Twist Magic and Natal back into the breach at Exeter on Tuesday.

Inglis Drever could be retired rather than attempt another Cheltenham Festival success after landing a famous third victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Former Arkle winner Well Chief has been ruled out for the season.

Philip Hobbs has admitted to being “amazed” at how well Fair Along has taken to fences ahead of his bid for Irish Independent Arkle Trophy glory.

Martin Brassil has declared himself happy with conditions at Cheltenham ahead of Nickname’s assault on the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

MARTIN BRASSIL has declared himself happy with conditions at Cheltenham ahead of Nickname’s assault on the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

IN Compliance looks almost certain to miss the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup as trainer Michael O’Brien is unhappy with the horse’s condition.

CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls will call on the likes of Kauto Star and Denman at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will call on the likes of Kauto Star and Denman at the Cheltenham Festival next month but of his more low-profile contenders, he is particularly keen on the chance of Nycteos in the Racing Post Plate.

Well Chief continues to please connections but no decision has yet been made as to whether he will take his chance in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on February 10.

RUBY WALSH insists Kauto Star has the right profile to play a leading role in the King George VI Chase.

Azertyuiop has been retired after failing to make a full recovery from injury.

HARDY EUSTACE could seek compensation for his Cheltenham defeat in the Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle on Saturday week.

Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Kauto Star will miss next week’s Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree.

WAR OF ATTRITION has earned an official rating of 170 with his impressive victory in last Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

War Of Attrition has earned an official rating of 170 with his impressive victory in last Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Queen Mother Champion Chase hopeful Dempsey is in great form ahead of his tilt at the two-mile championship next month.

Mick Fitzgerald is looking forward to teaming up with Kauto Star for the second time in tomorrow’s totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

MICK FITZGERALD will renew his partnership with Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Kauto Star in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Racing Demon heads a list of 57 entries for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Azertyuiop is reported to be making good progress at owner John Hales’ home as he recovers from an over-reach sustained at Sandown last April.

Kauto Star will have just one more outing before his crack at the Queen Mother Champion Chase when he contests the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February.

RATHGAR BEAU’S trainer Eamonn Sheehy is hoping his stable star can bounce back quickly after he was forced out of the Saturday’s William Hill - Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown by a dirty scope, and he has already pencilled in another race at Cork.

Mick Fitzgerald set himself up for Saturday’s William Hill – Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown when partnering hot favourite Kauto Star at Paul Nicholls’ yard on Thursday morning.

JIM LEWIS believes his triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate can make an encouraging start to the season at Exeter today, despite conditions being far from ideal.

Best Mate will face 10 rivals as the triple-Cheltenham Gold Cup winner makes his eagerly-anticipated return to action at Exeter on Tuesday.

Le Roi Miguel could make his seasonal bow in Sunday’s Grade Two bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

CHAMPION owner David Johnson believes his Well Chief is “the one to beat” in the major two-mile chases this season.

Champion owner David Johnson believes his Well Chief is “the one to beat” in the major two-mile chases this season.

CONNECTIONS of Azertyuiop have abandoned any hopes of the horse returning to action this season.

Top novice Ashley Brook could begin his second season as a chaser on the same early-November Exeter card on which he made a successful start over fences last autumn.

Well Chief overturned Nicholls' Azertyuiop in the Betfred Celebration Chase.