Ruby Walsh has been confirmed as the rider of ante-post favourite The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

PAUL Nicholls has revealed two of his leading John Smith’s Grand National fancies have had breathing operations.

IRISH interest in tomorrow’s Paddy Power Gold Cup is led by the JP McManus-owned duo of Finger Onthe Pulse, trained by Tom Taaffe and Dancing Tornado, trained by Michael Hourigan.

Long Run will face 19 rivals as he bids to get his season off to a winning start in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

TONY MARTIN fears conditions at Fairyhouse may end up being too testing for Saddlers Storm in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday.

Siegemaster heads a final field of 30 for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

The Sawyer enjoyed a day’s hunting in his build-up for his next race at Aintree in two weeks’ time.

Bob Buckler is looking forward to running Niche Market in the John Smith’s Grand National after the gelding completed his public preparation at Cheltenham last week.

Qaspal ended Philip Hobbs' Paddy Power Imperial Cup drought today and put himself in the reckoning for a £75,000 (€82,829) bonus if following up at the Cheltenham Festival when leading home a stable one-two at Sandown.

HARRY Findlay is backing his own Big Fella Thanks rather than the gambled-on Tricky Trickster to provide champion trainer Paul Nicholls with a first win in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 10.

Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere head the weights on 11st 10lb for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 10.

DENMAN was universally eased by the bookmakers for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after unshipping champion jockey Tony McCoy in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Denman was universally eased by the bookmakers for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after unshipping champion jockey Tony McCoy in the Aon Chase at Newbury.

PAUL Nicholls believes today’s Aon Chase will leave Denman spot-on for his bid to regain the Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham next month.

EACH of the last three winners of the John Smith’s Grand National have been entered for the 2010 renewal on April 10.

WHEN Niche Market went by the post in front at the end of the Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday you could literally hear a pin drop.

Niche Market was handed a 33-1 quote from William Hill for next year’s Aintree Grand National after springing a surprise for Bob Buckler in the Powers Whiskey-sponsored Irish version at Fairyhouse.

Notre Pere has been declared for Monday’s Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, despite Jim Dreaper admitting to concerns about the ground being faster than ideal.

WICHITA Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

Wichita Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner’s four entries he will ride in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Can’t Buy Time leads the charge for Jonjo O’Neill in the National Hunt Chase - a race the trainer has plundered four times in the last seven years.

AIR FORCE ONE will bypass the rescheduled Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday and go straight to Cheltenham.

DENMAN will face six rivals at Kempton today including King George VI runner-up Albertas Run, whose connections are hoping the ground is not too testing.

Diamond Harry came close to losing his unbeaten record before showing admirable battling qualities to again come out on top at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins ended his first season as Ireland's champion jumps trainer on a high note as Emma Jane took the Whitewater Centre Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.

Double Dizzy highlighted the resurgent form of Bob Buckler and put himself in line for a possible trip to the Punchestown Festival when landing the odds at Taunton.

"Mind-blowing" is how Bournemouth pawnbroker Kevin Old described winning the John Smith’s People’s Race on Grand National day in front of a massive crowd at Aintree.

Carl Llewellyn is looking for clues to see if Roll Along is Festival material as he steps up in class for an ultra-competitive renewal of the Ballymore Properties Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury tomorrow.

Degas Art advertised his Triumph Hurdle credentials with a gutsy performance in the Weatherbys Bank Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Blazing Bailey proved the class act as he earned a possible trip to the Cheltenham Festival when maintaining his unbeaten record at Fontwell.

Richard Johnson, forced to give up the big-race rides on Monkerhostin and One Knight over the Christmas period, returned to winning ways at Taunton for Philip Hobbs.

The Local was the star of the show at a wet and windy Wincanton, running out an impressive winner of the Weatherbys Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle.

I Hear Thunder put in a really gutsy performance to land the betfair.com Handicap Chase at Chepstow.

Wild Passion heads a high-class field for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle on the first day of the Punchestown Festival tomorrow.

Ladalko heads the eight runners declared for the stanjamesuk.com Challow Hurdle at Newbury tomorrow.

Iris’s Gift remains on course for a mouth-watering rematch with Baracouda after a promising seasonal reappearance at Haydock.

Trainer Philip Hobbs continued his fine form by winning with both his runners at Fontwell today.

Nicky Henderson and Mick Fitzgerald entered the New Year in top form and the Seven Barrows team kept the ball rolling with a double at Plumpton today thanks to Old Bean and Non So.

Leading staying hurdler Baracouda is a surprise entry at Sandown on Saturday.