Paul Nolan has warned that Defy Logic in unlikely to run at Leopardstown over Christmas unless ground conditions ease at the Dublin track.

Trainer Paul Nolan is unsure what to expect from Noble Prince as he prepares to return to the scene of his greatest triumph for Saturday’s Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Ruby Walsh made his way to Thurles yesterday for just one ride, Noble Prince, in the featured John Meagher Memorial Chase and it duly obliged.

Nicky Henderson is happy for Sprinter Sacre to take his chance on testing ground in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown today.

Sprinter Sacre, the undoubted star of National Hunt racing, will face just four rivals in tomorrow's Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown.

Sprinter Sacre stood his ground among eight entries remaining in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday but Flemenstar has been ruled out after connections decided to give the eight-year-old a wind operation.

A decision on Sizing Europe’s target at Cheltenham is set to be left until the last moment.

Trainer Peter Casey says Flemenstar is “very unlikely” to run at the Cheltenham Festival nest month after being found to have a lung infection.

Scintillating Naas scorer Rule The World is likely to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March should connections give a trip to Prestbury Park the green light.

Noble Prince will cross the Irish Sea to make his seasonal reappearance in the two-and-a-half-mile Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

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

Trainer Paul Nolan is set to campaign Noble Prince on British shores this jumps season in search of better ground.

Robbie Hennessy feels putting thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup back to tomorrow from Wednesday will have no ill effects on Rubi Light.

Quito De La Roque is market leader to make up for lost time in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

A decision on which race First Lieutenant contests at the Punchestown Festival could be dictated by the target of the impressive Sir Des Champs.

“A man’s gotta make at least one bet a day, else he could be walking around lucky and never know it.”

Day three of the festival and here we are, scrounging around for Irish winners.

THERE are two noticeable powerhouses dominating Irish racing this season - Willie Mullins and Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.

He seems fine and I am happy with him... two miles and five furlongs around Cheltenham is right up his street.

Sizing Europe and Big Zeb, the first two home in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase last year, are on course for a rematch at Cheltenham next Wednesday.

Noble Prince is pleasing trainer Paul Nolan ahead of Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase following a successful breathing operation.

Jessica Harrington has all but ruled out a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Bostons Angel following another disappointing run at Leopardstown.

The action from across the water has been decimated by the weather and if Ffos Las falls foul of an inspection, British racegoers will really be struggling for meaningful action.

Big Zeb’s owner Pat Redmond is placing a second victory in the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase as a greater priority than Sunday’s Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

Blazing Tempo was the star of a stunning 16.5-1 four-timer for trainer Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse.

COLM MURPHY would like to see plenty of rain to tempt him to run Voler La Vedette against Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

DESCRIBED by her trainer as “an iron mare“, Blazing Tempo turned over odds-on favourite Noble Prince to land the Grade 2 Norman Grove Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday, providing Willie Mullins with the highlight of a superb four-timer.

I GENERALLY go on a skiing holiday at this time of the year, when the racing scene is quite enough and so this column is coming to you from Megeve in France.

PAUL NICHOLLS throws Al Ferof in at the deep end in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot today, but I think it is the right decision.

RUBI LIGHT, third behind dual winner Albertas Run and Kalahari King in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season, will skip the Gold Cup this year for another crack at the Ryanair after he finished second in the Lexus.

Dual winner Albertas Run heads the 38 entries for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 15.

Noble Prince is likely to be given a tentative entry in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 12.

JONCOL has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a tendon injury during the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last week.

BIG ZEB showed he is far from being a back number when powering away with the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Big Zeb won the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown for a third time when getting the better of Noble Prince.

BIG ZEB has to the choice to land the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Colm Murphy believes everything is right for Big Zeb as he goes in search of his third victory in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.

Robbie Power looks set to maintain his partnership with Big Zeb when the former champion goes for a second straight victory in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

A cracking renewal of the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day is in prospect.

Sizing Europe was the only defector from the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

Denman appeared among 17 contenders for the Lexus Chase as the entries for the major races at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival were published.

THE handicapper had to allow himself a little smile of satisfaction, following two races of late.

FORMER two-mile champion Big Zeb and classy mare Volver La Vedette provided trainer Colm Murphy with a superb Grade 2 double when making successful seasonal debuts in Navan yesterday.

Colm Murphy’s two big guns, Big Zeb and Voler La Vedette, saw the Co Wexford trainer steal the show at Navan.