Paul Nicholls is keeping his options open for the skybet.com Castleford Chase, with four entries for the £50,000 (€72,000) contest at Wetherby on Monday.

BARACOUDA has been installed as the red-hot 1-3 favourite by Cashmans to record a fourth success in the Telectronics Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday.

Connections of Baracouda are looking forward to the brilliant Frenchman gracing Windsor at the weekend when he bids for a fourth victory in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Former champion hurdler Rooster Booster will try for a second win in the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Rooster Booster, winner of the 2003 Smurfit Champion Hurdle, could reappear at Cheltenham next month.

INTERSKY FALCON heads a field of eight for the £70,000 Concept Hurdle at Sandown today.

Hardy Eustace produced a real shock as he made virtually all to land the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival today at odds of 33-1.

ROOSTER BOOSTER is in "tip-top shape" for his bid to complete back-to-back victories in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle on today's opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Philip Hobbs today reported Rooster Booster to be in fine shape ahead of his bid to win the Smurfit Champion Hurdle for the second year running at Cheltenham tomorrow.

RUBY WALSH yesterday expressed confidence that Azertyuiop will give Moscow Flyer a real battle in the Champion ’Chase at Cheltenham next week.

Nicky Henderson’s amazing run of Saturday specials shows no sign of ending after Isio struck under Barry Geraghty to take the inaugural running of the £100,000 (€148,600) Vodafone Gold Cup at Newbury yesterday.

Two beaten horses stole the limelight on a weekend of clues for the Cheltenham Festival and both look sure to be in the thick of the action when the major races are played out at Prestbury Park next month.

Philip Hobbs admitted today that the Smurfit Champion Hurdle can’t come quick enough for Rooster Booster.

Mick Fitzgerald has issued an upbeat bulletin on his recovery from the broken arm he sustained in a fall at Kempton last weekend.

Rooster Booster was denied victory in Newbury today, finishing second in the Tote Gold Trophy for the third time in four years.

EMMA LAVELLE believes handicap debutant Self Defense has a realistic chance of upstaging Rooster Booster in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

CHAMPION Hurdle hero Rooster Booster has been installed 11-2 favourite with the sponsors for the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury next month following the publication of the weights yesterday.

Last year’s winner Intersky Falcon heads 13 entries for the Jobs At Pertemps City Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

LORD OF THE HILL maintained the fine run of form of local trainer Heather Dalton’s horses when winning for the second time in four days.

DAVIDS LAD cannot run at Cheltenham today after the Turf Club succeeded in having last Thursday’s court stay temporarily lifted at the High Court in Dublin yesterday.

FLORIDA PEARL is unlikely to make a sixth visit to the Cheltenham Festival after it was revealed that the 11-year-old scoped badly after being pulled up in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Moscow Flyer remains unchanged as 11-4 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Coral following a comfortable victory at Punchestown today.

Ned Kelly's runaway AIG Europe Champion Hurdle victory at Leopardstown has seen him emerge as a true rival for Istabraq in this year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Richards will break new ground next Sunday when he sends The French Furze over to Ireland for the Grade One AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

A small but select field will line-up for the Victor Chandler Bula Hurdle after no further entries were received for the £75,000 event at Cheltenham on Saturday.

John Brown, chairman of bookmakers William Hill and co-owner of Shooting Light, believes his horse is a rightful market leader for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Connections of Geos have insisted that their hurdling star is ready to capitalise if reigning champion Istabraq has lost his touch.