RUBY WALSH has been expanding on his reasons for choosing Cornish Rebel from Paul Nicholls’ three-strong hand in Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

CORAL have reported a significant market plunge for the Martin Pipe-trained Comply Or Die in Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

ANTE-POST favourite Trabolgan heads 24 horses remaining in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday following the five-day confirmation stage yesterday.

Trabolgan is now favourite for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup with some bookmakers following continued heavy sport.

King Harald is as low as 7-1 favourite for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup after weights for the November 26 feature were released.

MARTIN PIPE’S bid to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup for the fifth time in the last six years is set to be spearheaded by a rested and rejuvenated Our Vic.

Jockey Robert Thornton will return to action later in the week following a spill at Wincanton on Saturday.

TODAY’S Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown looks increasingly like being the pivotal event in the trainers’ championship race, with Martin Pipe and Paul Nicholls responsible for over half the field in the final big event of the jumps season.

Ruby Walsh has described the prospect of a clean sweep in the season’s four major Nationals as “unbelievable” just 24 hours before partnering leading chance Cornish Rebel at Ayr.

CONNECTIONS of Philson Run are looking to Seamus Durack to produce their charge as late as possible in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr tomorrow.

TED WALSH is planning a double assault on the Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree on April 3.

LATALOMNE, a faller at the penultimate fence in the last two runnings of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, can land a well-deserved success at Cheltenham today.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe today issued an updated bulletin on jockey Gerry Supple and classy chaser Iris Bleu, who both suffered injuries in last Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree.

Initial indications suggest Martin Pipe’s Iris Bleu will recover from injuries gained in Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National.

Irish contenders at the Grand National.

Bright sunshine greeted the early arrivals at Aintree racecourse today ahead of the of the Martell Cognac Grand National.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy, who made a successful return from injury on Deano’s Beeno at Ascot yesterday, has chosen to ride Iris Bleu in Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National.

PUNTERS latched onto Chives yesterday for the Martell Cognac Grand National, with Coral forced to cut the eight-year-old’s odds to 9-1 third favourite from 11-1.

CONNECTIONS of Davids Lad will have their appeal heard at the Irish Turf Club next Monday at 3pm as they bid to overturn a punishment that would rule their horse out of the Martell Cognac Grand National.

SUPREME GLORY is on course for Saturday’s Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock, trainer Pat Murphy confirmed yesterday.

FLORIDA PEARL may have to wait another year before taking his chance in the Martell Cognac Grand National, despite his apparently favourable treatment at the hands of the handicapper ahead of this year’s running of the world’s most famous jump race.

Take Control could make a quick reappearance at Sandown on Saturday after getting up late to land the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Marlborough heads a list of 38 horses confirmed today for the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

No horses were withdrawn from the Martell Grand National at the final declaration stage.

Tony McCoy faces a nervous few hours before a decision can be made over his participation in tomorrow’s Martell Grand National.

Martin Pipe, who saddles eight runners in tomorrow’s Martell Grand National, today told why he is so keen to win the big race for a second time, having scored with Miinnehoma in 1994.

John Brown, chairman of bookmakers William Hill and co-owner of Shooting Light, believes his horse is a rightful market leader for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.