WELL, Master Minded certainly fluffed his lines yesterday and was never going to win the Champion Chase.

Owner Andy Stewart is delighted Ruby Walsh has decided to stick with Poquelin after the Paddy Power runner-up was given the go-ahead for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Gwanako and Our Vic have been left at the head of the weights for Saturday’s Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Tranquil Sea has been given top weight of 11st 12lb in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

Poquelin heads a five-strong entry from the Paul Nicholls stable in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 14.

Timepiece is evidently regarded as a hot prospect at Henry Cecil's stable and she showed it on the track with an authoritative victory at Lingfield.

Carruthers put up an exemplary round of jumping to win the Sodexho Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot.

THE defection of both Exotic Dancer and Air Force One from tomorrow’s Hennessy at Leopardstown obviously makes the task of Neptune Collonges decidedly easier than a week ago.

AIR FORCE ONE will bypass the rescheduled Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday and go straight to Cheltenham.

Jim Dreaper believes the postponement of last weekend’s Irish Hennessy meeting could have worked in Notre Pere’s favour after the weights for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National were revealed.

The entries for the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National have been revealed, with last year’s Gold Cup winner Denman the headline act from a total of 123.

A run in the John Smith’s Grand National seems unlikely for Denman unless something goes wrong in his pursuit of back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Last year’s winner Our Vic is among a 48-strong entry for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 12.

FOR me there is absolutely no doubt what the highlight of the weekend promises to be and that’s getting on Mikael d’Haguenet in public for the first time in a Grade 2 at Naas tomorrow.

Gwanako got the better of My Petra in a thrilling duel to win the Gooding Group Graduation Chase at Ascot.

Malcom Jefferson’s Roman Ark is set to bid for glory in the John Smith’s Topham Chase at Aintree.

Colin Tizzard banished a 33-day losing run when Mister Quasimodo put his rivals to the sword in the Kempton Park Graduation Chase.

Tidal Bay continued to look like one of the most accomplished novice chasers on the scene as he stretched his unbeaten record over fences to three.

CHAMPION hurdler Sublimity heads a high-class entry of 14 for the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Despite a thrilling line-up at Haydock, another candidate for race of the season is shaping up in Saturday’s Coral Ascot Hurdle.

Osana heads the 30 horses confirmed for Sunday’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham after a number of higher-rated entries defected at the latest stage.