River Liane’s Cheltenham Festival claims received a boost as Made In Taipan strolled to victory at Naas.

ANTE-POST punters have suffered a blow yesterday when trainer Martin Brassil revealed Numbersixvalverde had not been entered for the John Smith’s Grand National after failing to make sufficient progress from injury.

Numbersixvalverde will not bid to recapture his John Smith’s Grand National crown in April after being ruled out for the season.

Martin Brassil expects to have 2006 John Smith’s Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde back in action soon as he starts out on the long road to another crack at the big Aintree prize.

Last year’s Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde is not likely to kick off his campaign for another couple of months.

Ferdy Murphy is praying Joes Edge gets the necessary breaks when he lines up among a 40-strong field for the John Smith’s Grand National tomorrow.

PAT HUGHES believes Point Barrow will “definitely” make the frame if he enjoys a trouble-free passage in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National.

WILLIE MULLINS is predicting a bold show from Hedgehunter in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

WILLIE MULLINS could saddle as many as five runners in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday after 68 horses stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage yesterday.

In horseracing more than any other sport, the best-laid plans can unravel in a heartbeat.

Ossmoses has been ruled out of the John Smith’s Grand National.

Hedgehunter will finally get his faltering season back on track with a prep race over timber at Limerick on Sunday.

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

PAT HUGHES has reported Point Barrow to be in top shape after his recent exertions as money continues to pour in for the John Smith’s Grand National hope.

MARTIN BRASSIL hopes Numbersixvalverde can pick up where he left off at Aintree last April when he makes his long-awaited return to fences at Fairyhouse today.

NICKNAME should enjoy little more than a good school on the way to another decent pay-day in the paddypowerpoker.com Newlands Chase at Naas tomorrow.

Bernie Carroll is looking forward to seeing Numbersixvalverde back in action over fences at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Exotic Dancer and Hedgehunter have been allocated joint top weight of 11st 12lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

HEDGEHUNTER, second in last season’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, could bypass this year’s renewal.

Nickname produced another stylish display in the Byrne Group plc Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown and has the bookmakers on the run ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

BRAVE INCA is on course to bid for back-to-back victories in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde has returned home none the worse for his pleasing reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

Nickname put a disappointing display in the John Durkan Chase behind him with a 14-length romp in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.

Hedgehunter, winner of the 2005 Grand National, is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle at Thurles tomorrow.

Seemingly from nowhere, Martin Brassil has emerged as one of this country’s rising training talents over the past two years. But, as Declan Colley discovered, the quietly spoken Curragh handler prefers to let his charges do the talking for him.

NumberSixValverde is to bid for a repeat success in the 2007 John Smiths Grand National at Aintree next April.

GRAND NATIONAL winner Numbersixvalverde yesterday jumped his first fence since winning the Aintree classic last April and jockey Niall 'Slippers' Madden pronounced himself delighted with the outcome.

WILLIE MULLINS could give Hedgehunter a first start of the season in Thursday’s Thurles Chase, but will not make a final decision about his participation until declaration day.

Willie Mullins could give Hedgehunter a first start of the season in Thursday's Thurles Chase, but will not make a final decision about his participation until declaration day.

LOCAL trainer Eugene O'Sullivan, whose only previous success on the flat came in a ladies race with Sam Vaughan at Killarney, doubled his tally when Head Waiter landed the Coolmore Orpen Maiden at Cork last night.

The long wait for a winner proved worthwhile for Pat Hughes when Point Barrow gave the trainer his second Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse yesterday.

John Smith’s Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde was reported to be in “A1” condition after completing his journey home from Aintree.

AINTREE Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde won't run again this season, according to trainer Martin Brassil.

There will be a big welcome home for Ireland's latest grand national winner in Co Kildare this evening.

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.

Last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero Hedgehunter tops 84 horses left in Saturday’s Aintree feature at the five-day stage.

RUBY WALSH hopes Hedgehunter can defy the weight of history by winning the John Smith’s Grand National for a second consecutive season.

Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden believes Numbersixvalverde will handle the rough-and-tumble of the John Smith’s Grand National with consummate ease.

ANTE-POST favourite Clan Royal and Racing Post Chase hero Innox are among 122 contenders remaining after the first forfeit stage for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Ante-post favourite Clan Royal and Racing Post Chase hero Innox are among 122 contenders remaining after the first forfeit stage for the John Smith’s Grand National.

TONY MARTIN’S worst fears were realised yesterday morning when his ante-post favourite for this afternoon’s Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park, Dun Doire, failed to make the line up and is first reserve.

THE fast ground at Gowran Park sees just three runners in this afternoon’s Grade Two National Lottery Agent Champion ’Chase, with all the big guns coming out of the race yesterday morning.

Trainer Colm Murphy was left with the pleasing dilemma of whether to have another go at the Champion Hurdle or switch to fences with the gutsy Brave Inca as the Punchestown Festival drew to a close yesterday.