Paul Nicholls gained some compensation for the defeat of Strong Flow in the Gold Cup when Sleeping Night took the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.

KICKING KING gets my vote to reign in the Gold Cup this afternoon.

TRAINER Noel Meade yesterday stated his intention to run Harchibald in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle next week “unless we find something really wrong with him”.

A record total of 92 horses are on 10st or above in the weights published today for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

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.

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.

Amberleigh House recorded a famous victory in the £600,000 (€914,000) Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree today.

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.

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.

Owner David Johnson has admitted he is having “second thoughts” about running Cheltenham disappointment Lord Atterbury in the Martell Cognac Grand National.

THE announcement of Eddie Macken as Olympic team trainer by the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) selectors this week, will, hopefully, bring the curtain down on the unfortunate controversy that had sprung up around the position.

The unveiling of the weights for the Martell Cognac Grand National yesterday produced a host of moves in ante-post markets on the world’s greatest steeplechase.