THE Grade 1 Paddy Power Champion Bumper produced a particularly smart winner in Dermot Weld’s four-year-old, Hidden Universe, writes Pat Keane

ROBERT Tyner plans to be double-handed with Callherwhatulike and The Halfway Bar in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

OPERATION Houdini is the 10-1 favourite with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

LADY ROBERTA gets the nap to reap the reward of consistency in the Knockhouse Stud Touch Of Land EBF Mares Bumper at Wexford this afternoon.

Time Electric failed to live up to his tall reputation as he finished well out of the places in the Athlumney (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Navan.

A HUGE amount of runners really makes Navan this afternoon a less than appetising prospect.

Charlie Mann believes Air Force One has “every chance” in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

SIVOTA, successful on the flat when trained in England by Tom Tate, can land the nap in the Visit www.punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

Former Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Hairy Molly is likely to become a late addition to the novice-chasing ranks this season.

DANCING HERO can give trainer Tom Foley a change of luck in the Great Oak Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park this evening.

SIR FREDERICK can provide the answer to the Powerstown Chase at Clonmel today, should the meeting survive an 8am inspection this morning.

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

THE AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow has attracted what can only be described as an extraordinary line-up.

PERCE ROCK’S team are not worried about the bottomless ground that is set to affect the Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown today.

FOREMAN, rated the best two-mile novice chaser around for Thierry Doumen last season, heads a list of seven entries for the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

CASEY JONES can outclass his rivals in the Gowran Park Racing Club Novice Hurdle at the Kilkenny track this afternoon.

CHELTENHAM Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition sets out on the long road back to Prestbury Park in the Star 'Best For Racing' Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

MOUNTHENRY, successful on five occasions over flights last season, can enjoy a first win over fences in the Total Events' Rental Novice Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

FAR FROM TROUBLE might provide the answer to a typically competitive looking William Hill Galway Plate at Ballybrit this afternoon.

MILL HOUSE GIRL, a mare who looks to have a bright future, can land the nap in the Sanglamore and Ballykisteen Stud Bumper at Tipperary this evening.

TWICE of late Walk In My Shadow has done us tasty favours and one cannot resist rowing in with her again in the first division of the Connollys' Red Mills Horse Care Cubes Handicap at Roscommon this evening.

I'LL tell you what Punchestown was last week: it was a savage success.

CHELTENHAM Festival winner Nicanor is set to spearhead a strong team for trainer Noel Meade at the Punchestown Festival.

Hairy Molly is set to bid for a Festival double in the Grade One Paddy Power Champion Irish at Punchestown on April 26.

WHILE punters were losing millions at Cheltenham on Wednesday, one astute Limerick gambler scooped €69,457 at one Ladbrokes office with just a 30c bet.

A NATION rose to acclaim Noel Meade at Cheltenham yesterday, after his Nicanor had produced a scintillating performance to beat Denman in the Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle, writes Pat Keane.

BEEF OR SALMON has to do the business in style in tomorrow’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown if he is to retain his position at the head of Cheltenham’s Gold Cup market.

TONY MARTIN’S worst fears were realised yesterday morning when his ante-post favourite for this afternoon’s Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park, Dun Doire, failed to make the line up and is first reserve.