Big Buck’s made the perfect return for owner Andy Stewart and trainer Paul Nicholls when outclassing his rivals in the sportingbet.com Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

Al Eile will try to emulate Morley Street when he bids to win the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle for a fourth time on Saturday.

FRANCOIS Doumen admits he would not swap Kasbah Bliss for any other horse as the French handler goes in search of his third success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Whatuthink is likely to bid for compensation in the Grade Two Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday week after his narrow defeat at Leopardstown.

ERIC McNamara will study the entries for the Slaney Novice Hurdle before deciding whether to commit Emergency Exit to the Grade Two contest at Naas on Sunday.

Whatuthink is to be aimed at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham after his near-miss at Leopardstown last week.

Nicky Henderson again took over a big Saturday afternoon with an 103-1 Ascot treble from all the feature races and thrust himself back into contention to win a first champion trainers’ title for 21 years.

Nicky Henderson admits he is finding it difficult to split Duc De Regniere and Punchestowns as the Seven Barrows duo prepare to lock horns in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Nicky Henderson will be forced to make an about-turn with plans for Duc De Regniere, who provided the trainer with part of an extraordinary 404-1 four-timer at Newbury.

DESSIE HUGHES has decided to let Hardy Eustace take his chance in Sunday’s Bar-One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Inglis Drever could bid for a fourth successive victory in the toteswinger Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

A crack at Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase could be next on the agenda for Briareus after he made a winning comeback for Andrew Balding at Kempton.

Briareus overcame a near two-year absence to deny the Paul Nicholls-trained I’msingingtheblues in the kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Nicky Henderson outlined his plans for a 21-horse assault on the Cheltenham Festival, spearheaded by a double attack on the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with Punjabi and Afsoun.

Connections of promising youngster Sir Jimmy Shand are expecting a bold show when their charge goes for gold in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.