Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire is the headline name that remains in Sunday’s Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

Stuccodor gets the nap selection to get punters off on the right foot by taking the opening maiden hurdle on Galway Plate Day in Ballybrit.

Flemenstar will make his long-awaited return in Saturday’s Webster Cup at Navan.

Owner Barry Connell believes Foxrock will not be out of place in tomorrow’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins’ Champagne Fever is fancied to turn over Don Cossack in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes’ Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles this afternoon, should the meeting survive an 8am inspection.

Jim Culloty is looking forward to getting his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere back on the course in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

Willie Mullins is set to unleash yet another hugely exciting novice chasing prospect at Thurles on Thursday in the shape of Un De Sceaux.

Runaway November Handicap winner Open Eagle is set to embark upon a career over hurdles this winter after joining Willie Mullins.

Tammys Hill, having a first outing since winning the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham festival in March, landed the Christmas Party Package Handicap Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Fascinating Rock looks the logical choice in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Ruby Walsh’s grim determination to get back from injury to ride at the Punchestown festival reaped a massive dividend when he drove Boston Bob to win the biggest prize of the week, the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Gold Cup yesterday.

Philip Fenton, who has endured a torrid few weeks, might have reason to smile after the INH Stallion Owners EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle at Navan this afternoon.

Big Buck’s is as short as 6-4 favourite to regain his Ladbrokes World Hurdle crown after the current champion Solwhit was ruled out of the race with injury.

Bryan Cooper believes First Lieutenant will be the one to beat if he runs in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 9.

Big Buck’s took an important step ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return to action with a gallop before racing at Exeter yesterday.

Sizing Europe and First Lieutenant are among a classy entry of nine for the JNwine.com Champion chase at Down Royal on Saturday.

Willie Mullins already has his string in tip-top form and he took the feature Polar Square Chase at Naas yesterday with Twinlight.

Rathlin, despite fears the trip might prove on the short side, gets the nap in a fascinating Dermot Hughes Car Sales Chase at Roscommon tonight.

First reserve Cry For The Moon got into the featured Ladbrokes’ Handicap Hurdle at Killarney yesterday and then ran his rivals ragged.

Trainer Colin Tizzard has challenged Cue Card’s rivals to take him on from the front in today’s Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s Simonsig maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Racing Post Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, but not without a fight.

Gallant Oscar, suspended for 42 days after finishing fourth at Punchestown previously, toyed with the opposition on his way to landing the Slievenamon Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Mouse Morris’ Rathlin sprang a 16-1 shock when turning over hot-pot Unika La Reconce in the Munster Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

Connections of Zuzka have yet to make any firm plans for the rest of the season following her odds-on reverse at Leopardstown last weekend.

Whoever had the foresight to name Rule The World must, at least secretly, be congratulating themselves.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh can combine for a short-priced double with Call The Police and Cadspeed at Thurles this afternoon.

Arvika Ligeonniere and Oscars Well could clash in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

Gordon Elliott’s exciting prospect Don Cossack will take his next step in a fascinating Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

Jockey Barry Geraghty believes Hennessy Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth deserves to be the ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sizing Europe is among a top-class entry of 15 for the PricewaterhouseCoopers Champion Chase at Gowran Park on Sunday.

Missunited can continue the remarkable run of her trainer, Michael Winters, by landing the Easyfix Rubber Products Novice Hurdle at Galway this evening.

China Rock was well beaten at Punchestown on Tuesday but he was the star turn on the closing day of the Festival meeting on Saturday.

China Rock made a swift reappearance pay as he triumphed in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup.

TRYING to hang your hat on one horse at Tramore this afternoon isn’t easy, but perhaps Mouse Morris’ Groomed will oblige in the Lisaleen Schooling Grounds Maiden Hurdle.

The weights for Monday’s Ladbrokes Irish Grand National have risen after both Seabass and Apt Approach were taken out at the latest forfeit stage.

The Barry Geraghty-Nicky Henderson alliance was further cemented when they combined for two brilliant successes with Bobs Worth and Simonsig, to go with Finian’s Rainbow’s gutsy victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The opening four-mile National Hunt Chase was a disappointing race for the Irish, at least for most, the exception being veteran rider John Thomas McNamara.

PRINCE de Beauchene isn’t well treated at the weights, but still rates the nap choice in the Grade 2 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Four commands respect with Festival in mind

VOLER La Vedette made her Grade 1 breakthrough when outclassing her three rivals in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday, where Ruby Walsh bagged the other Grade 1 events on Sous Les Cieux and Bog Warrior.

GIGGINSTOWN House Stud owner Michael O’Leary will be delighted to hold such a strong hand in tomorrow’s Drinmore Novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse and he can land the spoils courtesy of Tony Martin’s Bog Warrior.

TAKE a chance on Rathlin in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase at Thurles this afternoon.

I PROBABLY love flat racing more than most, but you have got to say it is terrific to see the National Hunt game now getting into full swing.