Beef Or Salmon heads the weights for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National after Michael Hourigan declared his 10-time Grade One winner for Monday’s marathon.

Willie Mullins has decided to run Homer Wells in Saturday's John Smith's Grand National and will now be four-handed in the Aintree feature.

WILLIE MULLINS could saddle as many as five runners in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday after 68 horses stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage yesterday.

In horseracing more than any other sport, the best-laid plans can unravel in a heartbeat.

TOM TAAFFE’S Cane Brake heads the field for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, meaning around half his rivals are set to run from out of the handicap at Fairyhouse on Monday.

CAN'T say I have ever had any great love of handicaps and, basically, regard them as little more than a necessary irritation.

Ferdy Murphy is to launch an all-out attack on the Powers Whisky Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 9.

MARTIN BRASSIL hopes Numbersixvalverde can pick up where he left off at Aintree last April when he makes his long-awaited return to fences at Fairyhouse today.

THE dropped-in-class Holly Tree is the choice to win the Irish National Hunt Festival Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

Exotic Dancer and Hedgehunter have been allocated joint top weight of 11st 12lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

IT’S a familiar theme, and there is every reason to believe that having the Ruby Walsh-Willie Mullins combination on your side should again pay dividends at Clonmel this afternoon.

WILLIE MULLINS, successful twice previously in the race with Micko’s Dream and Hedgehunter, saddled the first two, Homer Wells and Livingstonebramble, in the Thyestes Chase before a huge crowd at Gowran Park yesterday.

FERDY Murphy’s Kitski is the sole British entry in the Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran on Thursday.

HOMER WELLS made an amazing recovery after nearly being brought down to claim the Grade Two Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

WILLIE MULLINS could give Hedgehunter a first start of the season in Thursday’s Thurles Chase, but will not make a final decision about his participation until declaration day.

Willie Mullins could give Hedgehunter a first start of the season in Thursday's Thurles Chase, but will not make a final decision about his participation until declaration day.

A decision on Forget The Past’s participation in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse will not be made until Friday morning.

JUSTIFIED will attempt to get his career back on track when tackling two and a half miles for the first time in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Justified will attempt to get his career back on track when tackling two and a half miles for the first time in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

MACS JOY puts his Champion Hurdle credentials on the line in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park today.

THE progressive Southern Vic is fancied to concede weight all round in the Grade Two Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase at Naas this afternoon.

PARLIAMENT SQUARE is the nap choice to land the Gain Horse Feeds Hurdle on a decent programme at Thurles this afternoon.

BEEF OR SALMON thundered back into Cheltenham Gold Cup contention when storming away with the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Paul Carberry warmed up for Beef Or Salmon’s big-race success in the best way possible when he gave Rosaker a vintage ride to win the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

TAKE a chance on Hedgehunter creating a mild surprise by landing the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.

JUSTIFIED is fancied to run his rivals ragged in the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

THE talented David Casey has real prospects of enjoying a treble at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

BOB HALL is fancied to get punters away to the ideal start in the opening Renault Hurdle at Wexford this afternoon.

IN a short few weeks Mossy Green will celebrate his 12th birthday, but showed at Thurles yesterday there is still plenty life left in Willie Mullins’ charge.

THURLES, which has made a massive contribution to National Hunt racing over many years, again comes up with the goods this afternoon, housing eight races.

Grand National winner Hedgehunter will miss his intended engagement in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil on May 29.

Solerina, one of the most popular horses in training, will step back up to three miles in tomorrow’s Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.

Sher Beau got up in the last stride to pip Kill Devil Hill in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.

JOUEUR D’ESTRUVAL, successful in the race a year ago, can do the business again in the Imperial Call Chase at Cork this afternoon.

RULE SUPREME’S target at the Cheltenham Festival could rest on the availability of intended big-race pilot David Casey.

Willie Mullins believes ante-post favourite Missed That should be able to handle quicker conditions in next week’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Dessie Hughes is pondering his Cheltenham options for Central House after the two-mile star sauntered to victory in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas yesterday.

CENTRAL HOUSE set himself up for the Cheltenham Festival when running out an embarrassingly easy winner of the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas yesterday.

QUEEN ASTRID is fancied to land the best race of the weekend in Ireland, the Woodlands Park 100 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow.

THE clash of Emotional Moment and Solerina in the McCabes’ Builders Ltd Boyne Hurdle at Navan tomorrow, is the race of the weekend in Ireland.