Irish jockey Leighton Aspell bids for racing immortality this afternoon as he chases a third consecutive Grand National victory. But long before his Aintree successes catapulted him into the media spotlight Aspell’s talents had won him a devoted band of followers...

Unlucky Betfair Hurdle fourth Affaire D’Honneur is one of 28 entries for Saturday’s Imperial Cup at Sandown.

It appears increasingly likely that Crabbie’s Grand National winner Many Clouds may attempt to do the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup-Aintree double after his intended prep race was scuppered by the weather at Kelso on Saturday.

Oliver Sherwood “couldn’t be happier” with Many Clouds ahead of his run in the totepoolliveinfo.com Premier Chase at Kelso today.

Rayvin Black is unlikely to be in action at next month’s Cheltenham Festival following his tremendous all-the-way victory in Saturday’s Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Colin Tizzard last night revealed Ladbrokes World Hurdle favourite Thistlecrack will aimed at the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup next year.

Triumph Hurdle winner Peace And Co appears to face a straightforward task as he attempts to get back to winning ways in today’s Betfred Racing “Follow Us On Twitter” Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.

Teenage sensation Jack Kennedy, who has not yet turned seventeen, registered his first wins as a 3lb. claimer when completing a hard-earned double on Steamboat Bill and Finea in Down Royal yesterday.

The New One appears to face a straightforward task in today’s StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain believes horses have been the forgotten factor in the decision to put back the start of the world’s greatest steeplechase to 5.15pm.

Trainer Jim Dreaper is looking forward to seeing Goonyella tackle Aintree’s Grand National fences for the second time in the Betfred Becher Chase on Saturday.

Considering that he had just scuppered a sporting fairytale, it was warming to see just how genuinely chuffed the racing world was for Leighton Aspell, who had scripted his own tale of the wholly unexpected at the Grand National and appeared not quite able to take it all in.

Barry Geraghty expects to find out on Tuesday if the Punchestown Festival is a realistic target for his comeback from a broken leg.

 

Many Clouds will school over fences tomorrow as he gears up for a crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13.

Oliver Sherwood insists he has his feet firmly on the ground as Many Clouds attempts to take the next step up the chasing ladder in today’s BetBright Cup Chase at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls believes there is even more to come from Dodging Bullets after he beat Sprinter Sacre and claimed his second Grade One of the season at Ascot.

Jim Culloty blamed the ground for Lord Windermere’s below-par run in the Lexus Chase over Christmas and all roads still lead to a defence of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, for which 35 entries have been revealed.

Harry Fry bids to continue his flying start to the year as Jolly’s Cracked It shoots for Grade One glory in Saturday’s 32Red Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown today.

Silviniaco Conti is likely to head straight for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Davy Condon has decided not to appeal against the 15-day suspension and £3,150 fine handed to him by the Ascot stewards on Saturday.

Garde La Victoire has been left with top weight following the five-day confirmations for The Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday, in which a number of contenders have come in for support.

Reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere is one of the star names among 29 entries for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Fingal Bay, who remains the only horse to have beaten Simonsig under Rules, is out to finally fulfil his potential in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury this afternoon.

Ruby Walsh thinks Djakadam has a “favourite’s chance” of creating history by becoming the first five-year-old to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Bryan Cooper is expected to make a quick return to the saddle for the big weekend meeting at Fairyhouse despite suffering a fall at Thurles yesterday.

Al Ferof will head to the King George VI Chase after returning to his brilliant best when running away with the Amlin 1965 Chase for the second year in succession at Ascot on Saturday.

National Hunt racing is a notoriously tough game to make a name for oneself, but Gavin Sheehan has been doing just that.

Big Buck’s’ owner Andy Stewart insists there are many names in the hat to discuss with trainer Paul Nicholls before deciding which jockey will get the call-up for the ride on the supreme staying hurdler.

Melodic Rendezvous is “95% likely” to take his chance in the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

Oliver Sherwood is weighing up his options for Puffin Billy after a planned racecourse gallop at Newbury this morning was cancelled due to frost.

Henry de Bromhead said it was “50-50” which race Sizing Europe will run in at Cheltenham after he was officially scratched from the Betfred Gold Cup.

Tony McCoy made the most of his spare ride on Mischievous Milly to take the feature totepool.com Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in tough conditions at Taunton yesterday.

Simonsig drained the pressure from a tense Nicky Henderson with a flawless novice chasing initiation at Ascot yesterday.

Trainer Oliver Sherwood warned he feels like “packing it up” after being fined £3,000 over the running and riding of Furrows in the bet365.com Novices’ Chase at Hereford.

Senior jockeys in action at Exeter gave a cautious nod of approval to the British Horseracing Authority’s latest set of amendments to the whip rules.

A SMALL but select field of five will go to post for the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Monday, with last season’s winner Binocular looking to repair his reputation.