Fran Flood is “hopeful” of G V A Ireland repeating last year’s success in the John Smith’s Midlands Grand National Chase at Uttoxeter tomorrow.

Kauto Star tops a list of 24 horses left in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the confirmation stage.

Ante-post favourite Nil Desperandum heads a total of 106 horses still engaged in the John Smith’s Grand National after the first forfeit stage.

Bedlam Boy made light of the testing conditions at Newcastle today to lift the opening toteplacepot Novices' Handicap in the hands of Tony Dobbin.

Welsh National winner Halcon Genelardais and Rehearsal Chase winner Neptune Collonges top the weights for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock.

Eurotrek put up a commanding performance under 11st 12lb to win the totesport.com Becher Handicap.

BRAVE INCA, Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace fought out a thrilling finish at the Cheltenham Festival and form part of a nine-strong contingent for the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Irish raider Numbersixvalverde won the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Numbersixvalverde, trained by Martin Brassil and ridden by Niall Madden, has won the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.

TED WALSH believes it will take something special for his Grand National duo to lower the colours of last year’s winner Hedgehunter, the mount of his son Ruby.

Ted Walsh believes it will take something special for his Grand National duo to lower the colours of last year’s winner Hedgehunter, who will be ridden by his son Ruby.

Willie Mullins hopes Hedgehunter can find the necessary improvement to lower Beef Or Salmon’s colours in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Michael Hourigan believes this year’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup could be a different story for Beef Or Salmon after three failed attempts.

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.

FRANCES CROWLEY is keen to get a run into Nil Desperandum ahead of a tilt at the totesport Becher Chase at Aintree on November 20.

MASSIVE balloting yesterday morning finally brought Navan this afternoon to some sort of manageable proportions.

Saoire could be Epsom-bound for a crack at the Vodafone Oaks next month after her surprise success in the Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday.

NATIONAL favourite Hedgehunter will travel to Aintree today, with his trainer Willie Mullins satisfied about the ground conditions at Liverpool.

Le Coudray heads the 39 entries remaining in the €250,000 Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National following today’s forfeit stage.

TRAINER Tom Taaffe and jockey Davy Russell, who will have their attention focussed on today’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, were both on the mark in yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day action at Wexford.

Rathgar Beau scored an easy success in the MacLochlainn Road Markings Limited Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles today.

Nil Desperandum was reported to be in good health despite his disappointing run in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Celestial Gold completed a famous double by taking the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury today.

NIL DESPERANDUM has been the gamble of the Hennessy Gold Cup in recent days but although Frances Crowley reports him to be “as fit as I can get him”, she is concerned about the horse trying to defy a seven-month absence from the racecourse at Newbury this afternoon.

Timmy Murphy feels confident of adding to his 1999 Hennessy Gold Cup success on Ever Blessed when he takes the mount of ante-post favourite Celestial Gold in tomorrow’s renewal of the big Newbury handicap.

Ante-post favourite Celestial Gold hardened at the top of the betting following today’s final declaration stage for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls believes that Royal Auclair has a good chance of giving him a second success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup as a trainer to add to the two he won as a jockey.

PUNTERS believe Celestial Gold will give Martin Pipe a third Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Best Mate has been installed as the 3-1 favourite with sponsors Stan James for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

BEST MATE has been installed as the 3-1 favourite with sponsors Stan James to land the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St. Stephen's Day.

THEREALBANDIT is the new favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup as punters piled into Martin Pipe’s charge following the publication of the weights yesterday.

HARBOUR PILOT pleased trainer Noel Meade on the gallops yesterday morning and looks likely to line up for the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase on Saturday.

THIRTEEN horses remain in Saturday’s eagerly awaited James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal, following yesterday’s supplementary and forfeit stage.

Smart Irish chaser Nil Desperandum is set to bypass Wetherby on Saturday and run nearer home instead at Down Royal a week later.

KICKING KING, who established himself as one of the leading two-mile novice chasers last term, will have his first start of the autumn at Gowran Park on Friday.

Nil Desperandum will launch a bid to establish himself in the ranks of Ireland’s leading chasers when he lines up for a Grade Two event at Gowran Park on Friday.

CHELTENHAM hero Brave Inca can round off a splendid campaign by landing the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

TIMMY MURPHY earned all the plaudits when giving Hi Cloy an ice-cool ride to take the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse yesterday.

HIGHLY-PROMISING Irish novice chaser Nil Desperandum is doubtful for the Cheltenham Festival after sustaining an injury whilst schooling on Wednesday.

An exciting racing weekend is in prospect, with a deluge of Cheltenham Festival hopefuls lined up to put their credentials on the line.

Exciting Irish novice Nil Desperandum will have two more starts before launching his attack on Cheltenham’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase in March.