The fine weather in Gloucestershire over the last few days has dried the ground enough for Jonjo O'Neill to declare Black Jack Ketchum, despite his reservations over soft ground.

RUBY WALSH has long suspected that the brilliant Asian Maze doesn’t truly get three miles and her victory in yesterday’s Whitewater Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown did nothing to change his mind.

IRISH mare Asian Maze and Howard Johnson’s No Refuge head the 18 entries for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

FRANCOIS DOUMEN has revealed former champion stayer Baracouda could be joined by stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on March 16.

A total of 50 entries, 15 more than in 2005, have been revealed for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 16.