Another season of top-level hurdling awaits The New One after he successfully returned to his now familiar starting point at Kempton.

Dan Skelton’s arrival to the training ranks has been little less than astonishing as Willow’s Saviour brought about his 15th and considerably most important winner in The Ladbroke at Ascot.

A partnership between Republic of Ireland international footballers John O’Shea and Stephen Hunt bore fruit in the Willerby Holiday Homes Maiden Hurdle at Warwick yesterday.

Niche Market, winner of the 2009 Irish Grand National, has been retired.

David Pipe feels ante-post favourite Junior has “enough weight” in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14.

PAUL NICHOLLS was delighted to see Kauto Star show plenty of enthusiasm as the veteran chaser enjoyed a spin with stablemates Big Buck’s and Mon Parrain after racing at Exeter yesterday.

Paul Nicholls was delighted to see Kauto Star show plenty of enthusiasm as the veteran chaser enjoyed a spin with stablemates Big Buck’s and Mon Parrain after racing at Exeter.

DERMOT WELD is to have his first Grand National runner for 16 years after confirming Majestic Concorde a definite starter in the John Smith’s-sponsored showpiece at Aintree on Saturday.

RUBY Walsh insists the decision to ride The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday week is not one he has taken lightly.

RUBY Walsh has been confirmed as the rider of ante-post favourite The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Ruby Walsh has been confirmed as the rider of ante-post favourite The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Celestial Halo will have other targets than the Cheltenham Festival despite enjoying a belated return to the winner's enclosure in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell today.

PAUL NICHOLLS is hopeful a breathing operation will help Denman produce a better finishing effort when he goes for further Cheltenham Gold Cup glory next month.

Paul Nicholls is hopeful a breathing operation will help Denman produce a better finishing effort when he goes for further Cheltenham Gold Cup glory next month.

What A Friend suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of his stable companion Noland in the Aon Chase at Newbury today.

LAST weekend we went through the big Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown in some detail, but the weather ruined the party and, of course, it has been rescheduled to this afternoon.

LESS than a year ago, prior to Cheltenham, Paul Nicholls was in Cork for a Festival preview night at Fermoy.

KAUTO Star completed his final jumping exercise in great style yesterday ahead of his bid for a record fifth successive victory in the rearranged William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

Tony McCoy has doubts whether Synchronised is a good enough jumper to provide him with a second Aintree Grand National but the stayer has done enough for the champion’s career already by providing him with a first success in the Chepstow version.

Robert Thornton was the happiest man on the racecourse at Exeter as he completed his miraculous return to the saddle.

SAM Thomas will be reunited with Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday week.

Sam Thomas will be reunited with Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday week.

CHELTENHAM is a magical place and I am really looking forward to seven rides there this afternoon for Paul Nicholls.

Captain Chris put up a performance with 'class' written all over it when taking a couple of useful scalps in the Gloucestershire Trainers Championship Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Tom George made a timely double visit to the winner's enclosure ahead of his Cheltenham Festival raid when Bold Punt and Overlaw were successful in the hands of Denis O'Regan at Market Rasen.

First-time blinkers were the remedy for Trenchant to savour the finest moment of his career in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

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.

THOSE of you with long memories may remember here a year ago just how confident I was of winning the Galway Plate aboard Oslot.

IT appears as if Noel Fehily could face a lengthy suspension, after he was referred to the British Horseracing Authority by the Cheltenham stewards on Thursday.

WHEN Niche Market went by the post in front at the end of the Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday you could literally hear a pin drop.

Niche Market was handed a 33-1 quote from William Hill for next year’s Aintree Grand National after springing a surprise for Bob Buckler in the Powers Whiskey-sponsored Irish version at Fairyhouse.

JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner’s four entries he will ride in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Belcantista, ante-post gamble for The Ladbroke, has sneaked in one from bottom in the 21-horse line-up.

Thundering Star, easily the most high-profile horse on view at the meeting, provided Paul Nicholls with a good omen for The Open this weekend when landing the Morgan Ashurst Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton.

Paul Nicholls admits Sporazene is facing an uphill task in tomorrow’s totescoop6 Summer Hurdle Handicap at Market Rasen.

Verasi was left unchanged at 33-1 with totesport for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase following his victory in the Chris Poole And George Ennor Celebration Novices’ Chase at Plumpton.