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.

Cheltenham specialist Fondmort and Irish raider War Of Attrition top 54 entries for the Ryanair Chase at next month’s Festival meeting.

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.

Jim Lewis has revealed Leighton Aspell’s knowledge of Huntingdon was one of the key factors in the jockey picking up the ride on Impek in tomorrow’s totesport Peterborough Chase.

Supreme Prince carries the hopes of the Philip Hobbs team in the bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday following the success of the ill-fated Farmer Jack in the corresponding race 12 months ago.

ACCORDION ETOILE is unlikely to be given a prep run ahead of his engagement in the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on November 13, despite being entered at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Le Roi Miguel could make his seasonal bow in Sunday’s Grade Two bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

MOSCOW FLYER, unless he’s gone completely over the top or falls, faces a simple task in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at the opening stage of the Punchestown Festival this afternoon.

Quazar provided further evidence that Jonjo O’Neill’s horses have finally escaped the doldrums when he formed the highlight of a 62-1 treble for Tony McCoy at Cheltenham today.

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

CHELTENHAM Gold Cup hero Kicking King is one of a clutch of big names among the possible runners at this month’s Punchestown Festival after entries for nine of the 10 Grade One races were revealed yesterday.

MOSCOW FLYER thrilled the crowds at Aintree yesterday as he put in a hugely impressive display to take the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase.

Moscow Flyer thrilled the crowds at Aintree today as he put in a hugely impressive display to take the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase.

QUEEN Mother Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer will face just five rivals when he bids to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree tomorrow.

Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer will face just five rivals when he bids to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

Paul Nicholls is likely to be represented by Thisthatandtother in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree on Thursday week.

Andy Stewart will wait to see what Kicking King’s Cheltenham Festival target is before deciding on running plans for Le Roi Miguel.

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.

A total of 13 horses stood their ground for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton Park following today’s final declaration stage.

Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Azertyuiop will run in Sunday’s Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.

RUBY WALSH has opted to ride Azertyuiop instead of stable companion and second-favourite Le Roi Miguel in Sunday’s Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

Paul Nicholls is to delay a decision on Azertyuiop’s participation in the Stan James King George VI Chase until Thursday morning, when final declarations for Sunday’s showpiece are made.

EDREDON BLEU is likely to bid for a repeat win in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Sunday with stable companion Best Mate swerving the race despite being left in at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage.

CHRISTMAS plans for Azertyuiop remain uncertain as Paul Nicholls considers whether to step his star two-miler up in distance for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

PAUL NICHOLLS is still unsure whether his crack two-miler Azertyuiop will step up in distance for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

EDREDON BLEU, who dominated the Peterborough Chase for four years from 1998 to 2001, heads the entries for this year’s contest in the likely absence of stablemates Best Mate and Impek.

Moscow Flyer will face six rivals when he bids to get his season back on track in the Martell Cognac Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

RACING in Britain looks to have emerged from the freeze-up in time for the majority of today’s meetings to go ahead with no expected problems.

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.

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.

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.

FRENCH challenger Jair Du Cochet is set to go off a hot favourite for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on St Stephen’s Day.

Strong Flow looks likely to miss the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Boxing Day in favour of a tilt at the Feltham Novices’ Chase on the same card.

Beef Or Salmon will be back in action at Cork on Sunday following a convincing victory at Punchestown last weekend.

BARRY GERAGHTY hailed Moscow Flyer the best horse he has ridden after the reigning Queen Mother Champion Chaser confirmed his status as the best two-mile chaser in the business with a breathtaking victory over heir apparent Azertyuiop, exciting prospect Le Roi Miguel and three-time winner Flagship Uberalles in the £100,000 William Hill Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Moscow Flyer confirmed his status as the best two-mile chaser in the British Isles with a breathtaking victory at Sandown yesterday.

PHILIP HOBBS reiterated yesterday that Flagship Uberalles has it to do when he bids for a fourth success in the William Hill – Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown tomorrow.

“Faugh-A-Ballagh”

Timmy Murphy will be reunited with Cenkos as he bids for back-to-back victories in the William Hill Tingle Creek Trophy Chase at Sandown on Saturday.