Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has 10 of the 102 initial entries for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April.

NOEL MEADE’S Pandorama will be hoping for a change of fortune in today’s Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Cooldine has been installed as favourite for tomorrow’s Lexus Chase at Leopardstown – if the meeting beats the weather.

EOIN Griffin has offered his gratitude to Fairyhouse for the rescheduling of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase – but warns his stable star Glencove Marina has not enjoyed an ideal preparation.

Silver By Nature now tops the weights for the Coral Welsh National after 13 horses were taken out of the December 27 race.

Burton Port has been raised 9lb following his fine effort in the Hennessy, meaning he will carry top weight of 11st 12lb if turning up in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27.

Hello Bud was a gallant winner for the father and son team of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies in an eventful race for the totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree.

NOTRE PERE will attempt to defy the steadier of 11st 12lb in Sunday’s totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree.

Notre Pere will attempt to defy the steadier of 11st 12lb in Sunday’s totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree.

GLENCOVE MARINA came back to something approaching his best form when landing the Listed Thurles Chase at the Tipperary track yesterday.

Jim Dreaper is keeping his fingers crossed Notre Pere can show some of his old spark when he returns to action in the Thurles Chase on Thursday.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies has confirmed he plans to take new Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Imperial Commander to Aintree for the totesport Bowl on Thursday week.

Past winners Kauto Star and Denman head 19 acceptors for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup following the first scratchings deadline.

GRAND National legend Ginger McCain has criticised the great race for now being too easy.

Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere head the weights on 11st 10lb for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 10.

ON a day when veteran War Of Attrition again thrilled his legion of followers, it was Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins who took the honours at Navan yesterday, completing a fine treble with Kerb Appeal, Uimhiraceathair and Skakervilz.

EACH of the last three winners of the John Smith’s Grand National have been entered for the 2010 renewal on April 10.

Notre Pere will bid to book his ticket for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a prominent showing in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown next month.

Sam Thomas stepped off the substitutes’ bench to score aboard Alex Ferguson’s What A Friend in the rescheduled Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

A 1-2 for England in yesterday’s rescheduled Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, What A Friend beating Money Trix, confirmed what most of us thought anyway that there is little or no chance of an Irish success in the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sam Thomas was the major beneficiary of the rescheduled Lexus Chase as he made the switch from Newbury to Leopardstown to score aboard Alex Ferguson’s What A Friend.

What A Friend led home Money Trix to give the British raiders a 1-2 in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

COOLDINE is the hopeful choice to land a wide open Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon, should the meeeting survive a 7.30am inspection due to the forecast of heavy frost overnight.

Connections of Voy Por Ustedes are hoping conditions will not be too testing for the former champion two-miler in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s third day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival is subject to a 7.30am inspection due to the threat of frost.

Jim Dreaper is confident Notre Pere can regain his old sparkle in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown next Monday.

NICKY Richards has confirmed Money Trix as an intended runner in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Joncol booked his ticket to the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 when showing plenty of guts to win the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

Notre Pere appears none the worse for his disappointing display in the Betfair Chase.

The Listener provided Nick Mitchell with the biggest win of his training career to date with an all-the-way win in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

THE major prize at Down Royal today is the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase, but there’s no solid reason top be overly optimistic about finding the winner so let’s concentrate, for the moment, on the Grade 2 ladbrokes.com Chase.

Jim Dreaper is looking forward to seeing his stable star Notre Pere make his first start of the campaign in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal tomorrow.

Notre Pere ploughed through the mud to claim the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup and earn a 10-1 quote with totesport for the equivalent race at Cheltenham next March.

FOR many people it is the romance of racing that is the attraction; of being part of – or merely witnessing – fabled stories which are ultimately woven into the very fabric of the sport and become legend.

Notre Pere demonstrated his admirable stamina - not to mention a real touch of class - in powering to victory in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup today.

The feature race of this year's Punchestown Festival takes place at the Co Kildare racecourse this afternoon.

Niche Market was handed a 33-1 quote from William Hill for next year’s Aintree Grand National after springing a surprise for Bob Buckler in the Powers Whiskey-sponsored Irish version at Fairyhouse.

Jim Dreaper has ruled Notre Pere out of the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse today.

THE possibility of the dreaded alternative handicap being utilised hangs over this afternoon’s Powers’ Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Connections of Wichita Lineman are hoping top-weight Notre Pere takes his chance in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

WILLIE Mullins appears to hold all the aces in Sunday’s Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse with four of the 10 runners in the Grade One contest.

FOLLOWING a fair bit of soul-searching, I have decided to ride Pomme Tiepy in Monday’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Notre Pere has been declared for Monday’s Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, despite Jim Dreaper admitting to concerns about the ground being faster than ideal.