John Quinn’s Character Building heads a field of 24 for the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

Ferdy Murphy is hoping Joes Edge makes the cut in the John Smith’s Grand National after getting up in the shadow of the post to win the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Heads Onthe Ground maintained Enda Bolger's magnificent record around the cross country course by grabbing gold in the Sporting Index Handicap Chase to provide Nina Carberry with a second Festival success.

CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS sees last year’s winner Hedgehunter as the main threat to his mount Royal Auclair - one of seven Paul Nicholls runners - in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

HEDGEHUNTER is a general 4-1 favourite with the English firms, although Irish bookmakers Cashmans and Paddy Power buck the trend with a 5-1 offer, to land back-to-back runnings of the John Smith’s Grand National after heading the list of 84 horses left in the Aintree spectacular at the five-day confirmation stage.

Last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero Hedgehunter tops 84 horses left in Saturday’s Aintree feature at the five-day stage.

RUBY WALSH hopes Hedgehunter can defy the weight of history by winning the John Smith’s Grand National for a second consecutive season.

Monkerhostin has been allocated top-weight of 11st 12lb for the John Smith’s Grand National by senior British Horseracing Board jumps handicapper Phil Smith.

LAST YEAR’S winner Hedgehunter heads a healthy entry of 148 for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 8.

Paul Nicholls has a powerful 10-strong team entered in the John Smith’s Grand National as he continues his quest for his first trainers’ championship.

Ruby Walsh is back in the saddle on Saturday with two rides at Warwick for Paul Nicholls.

NOEL MEADE has reported his Tolworth Hurdle absentee Iktitaf fine after an examination on returning to his yard in Navan.

Paul Nicholls will be without the services of Ruby Walsh at Sandown on Saturday.

Ruby Walsh is expected to return to action by the end of the week after suffering a crashing fall from Sporazene at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Europa can make amends for an unlucky run at Cheltenham’s New Year meeting 12 months ago with victory at Prestbury Park on Sunday.

Inglis Drever will face a maximum of 11 rivals in Tuesday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow.

Trainer Ned Mitchell has one eye firmly focused on the John Smith’s Grand National next April after Garvivonnian proved his mettle over the Aintree fences in the totesport Becher Chase.

Martin Pipe has insisted he will not “sacrifice” any of his horses to win a 15th trainers’ championship.

JOCKEY CLUB officials were none-the-wiser yesterday as to whether champion trainer Martin Pipe will attend a scheduled hearing tomorrow over his refusal to allow a horse to be dope-tested at Haydock last week.

Kicking King, winner of the King George VI Chase, heads 39 entries for the inaugural Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase at Cheltenham.

Revellers who braved the inevitable New Year hangovers to be at Cheltenham on Saturday suffered something of an anti-climax as rising star Fundamentalist fluffed his lines badly in the Unicoin Homes “Dipper” Novices’ Chase.

Ferdy Murphy is praying the rain stays away from Cheltenham to help Europa’s prospects in tomorrow’s Unicoin Homes Handicap Chase.

Irish ace Barry Geraghty has been snapped up to ride the gambled-on King Eider in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ Armaturk has been shouldered with top weight in the bonusprint.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

TONY DOBBIN has picked up the plum ride on Monkerhostin, the favourite for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

MONKERHOSTIN is the new ante-post favourite for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham after original market leader Our Vic was ruled out yesterday.

Paul Nicholls today declared Rigmarole on target to bid for back-to-back victories in the RHT 40th Anniversary Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

Well Chief, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy, won the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

ROOSTER BOOSTER is in "tip-top shape" for his bid to complete back-to-back victories in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle on today's opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Paddy The Piper extended his winning sequence to five in brave fashion in the Grade Two Tote Exacta Premier Kelso Hurdle at Kelso yesterday, but he will be giving the Cheltenham Festival a miss.

A huge array of young talent has been entered for the two novice features at the Cheltenham Festival, the Irish Independent Arkle Chase and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Both Coral and Ladbrokes have cut Kicking King’s price for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival after he won at Punchestown this afternoon.

SEE MORE BUSINESS is reported to be in fine form as he prepares for his attempt to win the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow for a fourth time.

See More Business is reported to be in fine form as he prepares for his attempt to win the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow for a fourth time.

Recent Wetherby winner Le Duc could reappear in a Grade Two Chase at Chepstow this Saturday.

The first three home in the Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last Saturday – Moneytrain, Don Fernando and Saintsaire – are among 111 entered in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on March 13.

MINI SENSATION rose to the occasion to land a gamble in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow yesterday.