KICKING KING, with positive noises emerging from Tom Taaffe regarding his well-being, has to get the nod to land the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

NOEL MEADE is likely to test the water with a few runners at Down Royal tomorrow after temporarily shutting up shop.

Noel Meade is likely to test the water with a few runners at Down Royal on Wednesday after temporarily shutting up shop.

Following a rollercoaster ride of a week in which Gold Cup-bound pair Kauto Star and Denman both did the business, the weekend action took something of a back seat.

RUBY WALSH, fresh from a spectacular return to the winner’s enclosure aboard Kauto Star at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, can guide Denman to victory in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Noel Meade could send Aitmatov and Jazz Messenger for the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Dual Grade One winner Jazz Messenger faces eight rivals when he steps up in trip to two and a half miles in the Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

"Denmania" swept Newbury on Saturday as last season’s top novice emerged as the leading threat to stablemate Kauto Star’s dominance of the staying division.

Noel Meade and Paul Carberry prolonged their run of red-hot form with a Grade One double at Fairyhouse.

Jazz Messenger has been ruled out of the WBX.COM “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle on Saturday.

SWEET Kiln will bid to boost the Bowe family’s domination of the Ballymore Properties Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Clopf will join compatriots Jazz Messenger and Harchibald in the line-up for the wbx.com “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

THE ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on April 27 is shaping up to be one of the races of the season after Willie Mullins and Noel Meade threw their hats into the ring.

2.00 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles ½f: A STRONG Irish challenge headed by De Valira, who reportedly sparkled in his latest piece of work, Hide The Evidence and Wins Now.

NOEL MEADE is “pretty certain” the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle will be Aran Concerto’s target at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace is a notable absentee in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on Saturday.

HARCHIBALD pleased trainer Noel Meade in a workout at Navan yesterday but a decision on whether he returns to action the the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on Saturday will not be made until later in the week.

NOEL MEADE is set to establish which race Aran Concerto will run in at the Cheltenham Festival after the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

JAZZ MESSENGER and Iktitaf have both returned sound from their assault on Sunday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle but Noel Meade feels the latter might have been compromised by an infection.

Jazz Messenger and Iktitaf have both returned sound from their assault on Sunday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle but Noel Meade feels the latter might have been compromised by an infection.

YOU have got to say Sunday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown has a far more interesting shape to it than might have been expected.

CHAMPION Hurdler Brave Inca will face a maximum of eight rivals in what looks a fascinating renewal of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Noel Meade has warned that his stable stars Iktitaf and Harchibald are unlikely to run in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle on Sunday week if the going remains heavy at Leopardstown.

Philip Hobbs’ Champion Hurdle contender Noble Request has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 10.

NOEL MEADE’S Iktitaf, Harchibald and Jazz Messenger are all on course for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, with the latter most likely to contest the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 28.

A possible rematch between Brave Inca and Iktitaf in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle later this month is likely to hinge on the ground.

LEMONFIELD is fancied to run his rivals silly in the Guillemene Maiden Hurdle at Tramore tomorrow.

JAZZ MESSENGER toyed with the opposition on the way to a smooth success in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday, topping up a smashing afternoon for trainer, Noel Meade, highlighted by a breathtaking display from Aran Concerto at Navan.

NOEL MEADE has reported that Harchibald will not be travelling over to Kempton to contest the Christmas Hurdle.

EOIN GRIFFIN’S Lounaos held off the determined challenge of Al Eile to claim the Leopardstown November Premier Handicap yesterday in the hands of Pat Smullen.

ANNO JUBILO can get the weekend away to the perfect start by landing the Guinness Brewhouse Series Novice Chase at Listowel this afternoon.

Iktitaf floored hot favourite Straw Bear to cause an upset in the VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Straw Bear and Sweet Wake head 13 entries for the VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles next Tuesday, the first day of the Punchestown Festival.

DON'T know about you, but here's one who will be desperately sorry to see the back of the National Hunt season.

Sublimity will try to improve on his Cheltenham Festival fourth in the VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown later this month.

SWEET WAKE is a short-priced favourite to give trainer Noel Meade a second victory in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham today.