Dessie Hughes, fighting flu’ all week, completed a fine big-race chase double at Leopardstown yesterday with Magnanimity and Rare Bob.

MASTER MINDED was supposed to cruise through last evening’s Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown and then skip back across the Irish Sea with another €124,000 plus to his credit.

DENMAN produced a perfectly adequate performance to land the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday, but one was left with the distinct impression he still has a way to go to be spoken about in the same breath as his celebrated stable companion, the brilliant Kauto Star.

THE rapidly improving Arthur Moore-trained Mansony continued his surge to the top when landing the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

THE relatively new combination of Edward O’Grady and Andrew McNamara was cemented in spectacular style at Leopardstown yesterday in front of an attendance of 17,000.

The family that controls Dow Jones & Co, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, said today it would consider a bid from media mogul Rupert Murdoch to buy the company, as well as other potential offers.

ARAN CONCERTO will travel to Cheltenham next month with all guns blazing, following a smooth success in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

IT really is a shame Schindlers Hunt cannot go to Cheltenham for the Arkle Trophy.

RACING was called off following the second contest at Fairyhouse yesterday, after the stewards decided it was no longer safe to continue.

THE only conclusion to be drawn, following War Of Attrition's performance in yesterday's Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown, is that it will take a very special horse to lower his colours if he arrives fit and healthy at next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

WILLIE MULLINS has yet another major string to his Cheltenham bow, following newcomer Ballytrim’s annihilation of the opposition in the Bumper at Thurles yesterday.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Missed That gave his Cheltenham prospects a major boost with a fine performance to win the Bailey’ Arkle Perpetual Cup at Leopardstown yesterday.

BRAVE INCA is now clear favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham following yet another superb performance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

TED WALSH has a possible star of the future on his hands in Southern Vic, who landed a major gamble in the Mongey Communications’ Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

DERMOT WELD added to his gains earlier in the week with Queen Astrid when Akshar made a successful debut over jumps in the O’Dwyers’ Stillorgan Orchard Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

TOM TAAFFE’S Kicking King consolidated his position near the head of Cheltenham’s Arkle Trophy market with a satisfactory display to land the Irish equivalent, the Arkle Cup at Leopardstown yesterday.

“DIFFERENT CLASS,” was Jim Culloty’s summation after his mount, Best Mate, toyed with the opposition in yesterday’s Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown.

CASHMANS, of the layers on site, were the least impressed with Beef Or Salmon’s satisfactory performance in winning the John Durkan Memorial ’Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

Golden Cross is a best-priced 12-1 chance for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham next month following an impressive victory Fairyhouse this afternoon in the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle.

THE Bowe family, already looking forward to Limestone Lad in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, will travel with all guns blazing following the superb display of Solerina in yesterday’s Deloitte and Touche Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

LE COUDRAY, considering the extremely testing cconditions, produced a sparkling display to outclass Barrow Drive in the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday.

ON Sunday morning the Prix de l’Arc chickens really came home to roost.