Willie Mullins could fire a formidable twin assault on Ascot’s major Saturday prizes after Faugheen and Ballycasey were confirmed for the Coral Ascot Hurdle and the Amlin 1965 Chase.

Dethroned at Cheltenham last March and beaten again by his arch-rival at the Punchestown Festival, former dual-champion Hurricane Fly turned the tables on reigning champion Jezki in the Grade 1 Stanjames.com Morgiana Hurdle in Puncehstown yesterday.

Willie Mullins is confident Hurricane Fly still has what it takes to make his mark at the top level ahead of his return in the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow.

Colin Bowe’s dreams of Cheltenham Festival glory moved into sharper focus as his prolific mare Little King Robin overcame her toughest test to date with a determined victory in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal yesterday.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins feels today’s WKD Hurdle at Down Royal is the hottest run so far this season.

Little King Robin is fancied to lead her rivals a merry dance in a decent renewal of the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal this afternoon.

Third in the Dubai World Cup last March, the Charlie Appleby-trained Cat O’Mountain, in the familiar Goldolphin blue, landed the Group 3 Diamond Stakes in Dundalk last night.

Façade, who caught the eye first time out, gets the nap in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden at Dundalk tonight.

Galway Plate hero Shane Shortall continued in top form when registering a double on Cassells Rock and Point Of Rescue in Bellewstown last night but also incurred a two-day whip ban.

Simenon recorded his first victory over timber since May 2012 with success in the Kevin McManus Bookmakers Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary on Saturday.

Michael Hourigan’s Tropical Three, backed at 4-1 in the morning and returned the 13-8 favourite, won the ITBA Fillies Scheme Hurdle at Listowel yesterday.

Pat Flynn’s Prince Chaparral became the only horse to win twice at the festival when landing the Supporters’ Club Maiden Hurdle at the final stage of Tramore yesterday.