Brave Inca will try and use his trademark battling qualities to justify favouritism and end a two-year losing stretch in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

SILENT Oscar, off the track since winning at the Punchestown Festival in 2007, is on course to return to the track in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 25.

Sizing Europe has suffered a slight setback which has put in jeopardy his participation in Monday’s Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle.

Colm Murphy reports former champion hurdler Brave Inca “as good as ever” ahead of his return from a lengthy absence in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Lounaos is ready to take on the best in the AIG (Europe) Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

David Pipe’s Osana lowered the colours of Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity with a surprising victory at Cheltenham.

Barry Geraghty paid tribute to a “great servant” after Macs Joy lost his life when breaking down in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity returns to the scene of his greatest triumph as he heads a high-class field in tomorrow’s Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Tony McCoy hopes Straw Bear can acquit himself well when he returns to action in Saturday’s Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

John Carr admits it would not be the “end of the world” if Sublimity were to be beaten in the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham on Saturday.

CHAMPION hurdler Sublimity heads a high-class entry of 14 for the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

JOHN Carr has still to see a serious challenger emerge to threaten Sublimity’s supremacy at the head of the Champion Hurdle betting.

Macs Joy is to be aimed at the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham after his withdrawal from the Hatton’s Grace on Sunday due to the heavy ground at Fairyhouse.

FAIRYHOUSE tomorrow houses three cracking Grade 1’s, but we should approach with caution on the basis that they look fiercely competitive.

Sweet Kiln will face eight rivals as she bids to continue the Bowe family's amazing record in Sunday's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

IN a year which has produced surprise after surprise in the elite hurdling division, the unheralded 20/1 shot Silent Oscar did it again yesterday when winning the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle against much more vaunted rivals.

Silent Oscar pipped last year's winner Macs Joy as the pair battled it out down the Punchestown straight in a thrilling ACC Bank Champion Hurdle.

MACS JOY, a brilliant winner of the race a year ago, is fancied to do the business again in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at the concluding stage of the Punchestown Festival today.

Champion Hurdle hero Sublimity will not bid for a big-race double at Punchestown on Friday.

NEWMILL, so impressive in the race a year ago, is fancied to get back on the winning trail in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at the first stage of the Punchestown Festival this afternoon.

THE high-class Dylan Thomas makes his seasonal debut in the Ascon Rohcon Alleged Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow and shouldn’t come out of second gear.

JESSICA HARRINGTON hopes Macs Joy can return to the same form he was in when winning last year’s ACCBank Champion Hurdle as connections prepare for a repeat bid.

THE ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on April 27 is shaping up to be one of the races of the season after Willie Mullins and Noel Meade threw their hats into the ring.

COLM MURPHY revealed Brave Inca will take his chance in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on April 27.

Colm Murphy revealed Brave Inca will take his chance in the ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on April 27.

Macs Joy has recovered from the setback which kept him out of the Cheltenham Festival – but will still not run at Aintree.

Laetitia made an impressive debut over fences with a faultless performance in the Bank Of Ireland EBF Mares Novice Chase at Limerick.

A selection in the top race on the programme at Wexford this afternoon is arrived at by process of elimination. Nine are set to contest this €21,000 two mile Menapia Classic Mouldings Hurdle.

Course specialist Exotic Dancer gets the nod to land the totesport Gold Cup at the final stage of the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.

A MOMENT in the limelight at the Cheltenham Festival is a lifelong ambition for most jumps owners, so for the Novices Syndicate, Brave Inca’s ascension to the top of the hurdling ranks is a dream beyond their wildest comprehension.

COLM MURPHY is not expecting the ground to be a major stumbling block to Brave Inca as he prepares to defend his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle title.

2.00 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles ½f: A STRONG Irish challenge headed by De Valira, who reportedly sparkled in his latest piece of work, Hide The Evidence and Wins Now.

Paul Carberry is to miss all four days of the Cheltenham Festival after failing to recover from a foot injury he suffered last weekend.

PHILIP Hobbs’ Detroit City, the main British hope, heads the betting at 2-1 following yesterday’s defection of both Macs Joy and Harchibald.

Irish hopes for Cheltenham have suffered another major blow with the news that Macs Joy is out of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle after pulling a muscle.

BARRY GERAGHTY, at Anfield last night to watch Liverpool play Barcelona in the Champions’ League, confesses to being “puzzled” by Macs Joy’s shock defeat to Newmill in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park last month.

COLM Murphy has confirmed Ruby Walsh will take the reins on Brave Inca when he attempts to defend his crown in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle next Tuesday.

Colm Murphy has confirmed Ruby Walsh will take the reins on Brave Inca when he attempts to defend his crown in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

JOHN MURPHY has moved to reassure punters reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill’s entry in the Champion Hurdle is just a precaution.

John Murphy has moved to reassure punters reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill’s entry in the Champion Hurdle is just a precaution.

NEWMILL has been given a clean bill of health after his exploits at Gowran Park on Saturday.

JESSICA HARRINGTON remains positive about Macs Joy’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle prospects despite his odds-on reverse on Saturday.

Newmill has been given a clean bill of health after his exploits at Gowran Park on Saturday.

THE defection of Hardy Eustace has robbed this afternoon’s Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park of much of its interest.