Rubi Light will be scoped on the gallops this morning after stopping very quickly on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown last weekend.

Three horses suffered fatal injuries on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

THERE are two noticeable powerhouses dominating Irish racing this season - Willie Mullins and Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.

No match for the classy So Young at Navan and back in novice company, 140-rated Trifolium ran out an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

CHELTENHAM’S cross-country course provided another dose of heavy drama for the wrong reason yesterday when seven riders ended up taking the wrong course with one obstacle remaining.

CONNECTIONS of Another Jewel will be seeking another bold show in Friday’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.

UNCLE Junior (9-2) prevented what would have undoubtedly been the most popular result of the afternoon by beating Garde Champetre in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

Young Tom Bellamy looks to have the world at his feet after producing a stylish ride on Swing Bill in the Irish Times Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

AFTER the first two days of the National Hunt Festival had failed to throw up a winning favourite, punters could have been forgiven for holding bookies in the same regard as bankers.

CAPTAIN CHRIS is the nap choice to land the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown this evening.

HENRY DE BROMHEAD’S Sizing Australia held off cross-country specialist Garde Champetre to take top honours in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.

Quevega once again proved she is the queen of Cheltenham as she produced another imperious performance to complete a hat-trick in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.

CAPTAIN Cee Bee is reported to be in fine shape ahead of his bid for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

ENTRIES for the 11 handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival have been unveiled.

Garde Champetre repeated his win of 2008 in the Glenfarclass P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

Enda Bolger’s two cross-country stars Garde Champetre and L’Ami are to make a belated return to the track over hurdles at Naas this Saturday.

LACDOUDAL fought off last year’s winner Garde Champetre in a stirring finish to the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham.

Cross-country grand master Garde Champetre is to make his traditional reappearance in the Vendee Hurdle at Thurles on October 21 before chasing further Cheltenham glory.

A New Story ended Enda Bolger’s domination in the cross-country races at Cheltenham when coming home in front in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase today.

FOR a horse that fell on his first outing at Cheltenham, Garde Champetre has come a long way.

Enda Bolger is responsible for five of the 16 runners as he seeks to continue his dominance of the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.

ENDA Bolger and owner JP McManus must never have thought they would find a horse to replace Spot Thedifference but Garde Champetre edged closer to surpassing his achievements at Cheltenham yesterday.

Enda Bolger and owner JP McManus must never have thought they would find a horse to replace Spot Thedifference but Garde Champetre edged closer to surpassing his achievements at Cheltenham today.

HENRY de Bromhead was back in the winner’s circle at Cheltenham for the first time since Sizing Europe’s Greatwood Hurdle win two years ago as Loosen My Load struck in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle yesterday.

Garde Champetre and Heads Onthe Ground will represent owner JP McManus in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.

ANY doubts about Fiveforthree staying three miles were totally dispelled when he ran away with the Grade 1 ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Jessies Dream gave the irresistible combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh another Festival winner with an impressive display in the AON Insurances Hurdle at Punchestown today.

THE possibility of the dreaded alternative handicap being utilised hangs over this afternoon’s Powers’ Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Connections of Wichita Lineman are hoping top-weight Notre Pere takes his chance in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

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.

RECESSION? What recession?

The Irish assault on Prestbury Park is part of what makes the Cheltenham Festival what it is – the highlight of the racing calendar.

PAUL Nolan believes Dix Villez could be the one to upset the Enda Bolger applecart in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham next month.

DAVY Russell’s cunning ground-saving manoeuvre aboard Dix Villez denied Enda Bolger a fifth consecutive success in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on a theatrical first afternoon of Cheltenham’s Open meeting yesterday.

SOMEONE who will go nameless for the moment told us Khyber Kim couldn’t be beaten in the Cheltenham opener.

Cerium was trimmed to 8-1 with Coral for the Arkle Trophy after the high-class hurdler made a smooth transition to fences under Paddy Brennan at Warwick.

CERIUM staked his claim for the Arkle Trophy when opening his account over fences with a near faultless display under Paddy Brennan at Warwick yesterday.

CHELTENHAM hero Brave Inca can round off a splendid campaign by landing the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

Garde Champetre took the concluding Martell Cognac Makro Mersey Novices' Hurdle for trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh.

Garde Champetre is a name for the notebooks after a highly-encouraging performance in the curtain-raiser at Cheltenham today.

ONE of the more mildly surprising aspects of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival is the fact Tony McCoy is rated by the layers as only third favourite to emerge as leading rider.

Reigning champions Best Mate, Rooster Booster, Moscow Flyer and Baracouda were declared to go forward to defend their Cheltenham Festival titles following yesterday’s forfeit stage for the nine championship races.

Lingo went to the head of the market for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after winning the feature race at Sandown Park yesterday.

Colin Tizzard has set his sights on winning another National after taking the Tote-sponsored Sussex version at Plumpton with Jeremy Spider.