Le Coudray heads a list of 85 horses confirmed at today’s five-day stage for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Numbersixvalverde got up in the dying strides in a thrilling finish to the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse today.

Le Coudray heads the 39 entries remaining in the €250,000 Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National following today’s forfeit stage.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN yesterday received a welcome boost ahead of Beef Or Salmon’s crack at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup when saddling his first winner for two months.

A RECORD entry of 152 has been received for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 9 with legendary owner JP McManus responsible for no less than 19 of those engaged.

BEST MATE will face a maximum of seven rivals when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown next Tuesday.

THIRTEEN horses remain in Saturday’s eagerly awaited James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal, following yesterday’s supplementary and forfeit stage.

English raider Artic Jack heads the weights on 12st for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National on Monday after 30 horses were today declared for the €112,820 contest.

Timbera looks set to run in Monday’s Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse after pleasing trainer Dessie Hughes in a gallop this morning.

IRISH bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Following the defection of First Gold at today’s final declaration stage, the weights for the Martell Cognac Grand National will go up 3lb to leave Le Coudray at the top of the handicap for Saturday’s race.

After his memorable exploits at Cheltenham, who would bet against Conor O’Dwyer making headlines again at Aintree on Saturday with Le Coudray? Declan Colley spoke to a man still on air after his Champion Hurdle victory.

CHAMPION Hurdle-winning trainer Dessie Hughes, though, reports Timbera, clear favourite at 9-1 with Cashmans, to be bang on course for Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National.

MACS GILDORAN was the only surprise withdrawal from the Martell Cognac Grand National at yesterday's forfeit stage, leaving a total of 77 entries remaining in the race a week on Saturday.

A record number of entries have been made for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

BY any standards, Florida Pearl’s victory in yesterday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown was an extraordinary performance.

Florida Pearl ran out a popular winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Veteran chaser Florida Pearl heads a field of seven for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

EIGHT horses remain in Sunday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, headed by last year’s winner, Beef Or Salmon.

Keen Leader, seen by many as the main danger to Best Mate recording an historic third success in chasing’s blue riband at Cheltenham in March, has been installed a hot favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup on Sunday week.

Lei Roi Miguel features among a high-class field of seven declared for the Servo Computer Services’ Ascot Chase on Saturday and trainer Paul Nicholls hopeful of a big run over a trip that should be to his liking.

A PUNTER remarked at Leopardstown on Sunday: “we’re going to have a terrible Cheltenham.”

MICHAEL HOURIGAN will wait and see how Beef Or Salmon goes over the next week or so before committing his stable star to the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Florida Pearl heads 12 entries for what looks set to be a cracking renewal of the Servo Computer Services' Ascot Chase on Saturday.

Jim Lewis, owner of Best Mate, confirmed at a lunch at Leopardstown racecourse yesterday that his dual Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner would return to Ireland next Christmas.

BEST MATE remains odds-on across the board to win an historic third Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup following the publication of the entries yesterday.

Best Mate heads the 32 entries revealed today for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, which takes place on March 18.

Best Mate is as short as 4-5 to win the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup for a third successive year after he silenced the doubters with a superb performance to win the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

“DIFFERENT CLASS,” was Jim Culloty’s summation after his mount, Best Mate, toyed with the opposition in yesterday’s Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown.

Best Mate stormed home in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown today.

BEEF OR SALMON, whose jumping was suspect on his seasonal reappearance at Clonmel, will have a racecourse school this morning in preparation for Sunday’s Grade One John Durkan Memorial ‘Chase at Punchestown.

It Takes Time and Poliantas have been installed 6-1 joint-favourites by the sponsors for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

IF the Hennessy Gold Cup is anything to go by, next month’s pilgrimage to Cheltenham could be one for the record books.

THE Bowe family, already looking forward to Limestone Lad in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, will travel with all guns blazing following the superb display of Solerina in yesterday’s Deloitte and Touche Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

TAKE a chance on Colonel Braxton turning over hot-pot Beef Or Salmon in tomorrow’s fascinating Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

TIMMY MURPHY, riding at the very top of his form, will again team up with market leader Beef Or Salmon in Sunday’s 92,900 to the winner Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

DAVENPORT MILENIUM may be capable of getting Willie Mullins’ season back on track by landing the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

A mouth-watering clash between Best Mate and Beef Or Salmon in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup remains on the cards after the pair today figured in a record 49 entries for the race on March 13.

RAIN, rain and more rain is the forecast for the holiday period but Ireland is experiencing its mildest Christmas in over a decade.

CHRISTY ROCHE’S Le Coudray can continue his splendid rehabilitation by landing the Grade One Denny Gold Medal Novice ’Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

CONOR O’DWYER, looking forward to partnering Native Upmanship in the King George at Kempton on Thursday, could be the pilot to follow at Navan this afternoon.

LE COUDRAY, considering the extremely testing cconditions, produced a sparkling display to outclass Barrow Drive in the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday.