ALAIVAN, third to Soldatino in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and off the track since May, made a successful return to action when outclassing Son Amix and four other rivals in the Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

The strong-travelling Psycho opened his account for the campaign at Naas with a pretty convincing display.

THE classy Alaivan should make a winning return to action in the featured Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas today.

ANDREW Lynch is confident a lack of stamina will not be an issue when Sizing Europe pits his wits against Kauto Star at Down Royal on Saturday.

SIZING EUROPE finally delivered on the biggest stage of all when landing the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham yesterday.

Sizing Europe maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a impressive display in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

Henry de Bromhead is happy with Sizing Europe ahead of the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham tomorrow.

ANDREW McNamara feels Tranquil Sea and Alaivan are his two best chances of glory at Cheltenham.

EDWARD O’Grady warned punters Osana has yet to reach his peak this season ahead of his tilt at the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

Edward O’Grady warned punters Osana has yet to reach his peak this season ahead of his tilt at the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

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.

IT may be the height of folly to nap a horse who finished a remote seventh of seven finishers last time, but that’s precisely what we are going to do with J’y Vole in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

For years, during the so-called boom times, when some people clearly had far more money than sense, balloting was the curse of the trainer.

Sizing Europe maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Grade One Board na Mona – With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown – but not without a scare.

IT is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the McNamara brothers, Andrew and Robbie, will take Leopardstown by storm on Stephen’s Day.

Alaivan looked a smart recruit to the jumping game when routing his rivals in the Fancy A Festive Flutter 3-Y-0 Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Osana booked his ticket for a Christmas trip to Leopardstown with a comfortable victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Navan today.

QUINOLA Des Obeaux is the nap choice to land the Kilberry Novice Hurdle at Navan this afternoon.

Edward O’Grady is considering switching Catch Me back to the smaller obstacles for the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday week.

All eyes will this afternoon be on Tony McCoy and red-hot favourite Binocular when the tapes go up for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Binocular could be part of the largest field for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 18 years with Nicky Henderson’s hot favourite one of 24 horses declared for Tuesday’s main event.

Henry de Bromhead is delighted to have secured the services of Denis O’Regan to ride Sizing Europe in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday week.

ANDREW McNamara is poised to claim the ride aboard Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle second favourite Osana after putting the 2008 runner-up through his paces at David Pipe’s yard earlier this week.

Triple Aintree Hurdle winner Al Eile returns from a lengthy absence at Dundalk tomorrow night.

A total of 29 horses stand their ground at the latest forfeit stage for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, the feature race of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

I COULD hardly have been more pleased when hearing the Aon Chase had been re-routed to Kempton today and what promised to be a particularly drab weekend has now been livened up no end.

I AM more than hopeful Celestial Halo can give his Champion Hurdle prospects a big boost by winning at Sandown this afternoon.

THE last four winners of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle could reoppose at the Cheltenham Festival as Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit are among 34 possibles for this year’s renewal.

The last four winners of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle could reoppose at the Cheltenham Festival as Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit are among 34 possibles for this year’s renewal

Al Eile produced another fine Liverpool performance to land his third Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle.

AL EILE features among 17 horses engaged in Saturday’s Scottish And Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle.

Al Eile features among 17 horses engaged in Saturday’s Scottish And Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle.

David Pipe will bide his time before deciding which path Champion Hurdle runner-up Osana will go down next season.

Victory in the feature of the opening day of Cheltenham - the Smurfit Champion Hurdle – has gone to the Alan King trained ‘Katchit’.

LOGIC dictates that Sizing Europe has to be the selection to land the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

CONNECTIONS of Sublimity believe their charge is a stronger horse this year.

Sizing Europe and defending champion Sublimity are among 17 declarations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

There were no major surprises among the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle defectors as Sizing Europe, Osana and reigning title-holder Sublimity all appeared among the five-day confirmations.

Henry De Bromhead can be forgiven for thinking he is in the middle of a beautiful dream.

HENRY DE BROMHEAD is set to hand Sizing Europe an imminent away-day as he plots a path to Cheltenham for a tilt at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Although certainly not the most original of selections, it is almost impossible to envisage defeat for Kauto Star at Ascot tomorrow.

Lemon Silk was added to the reopened Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

DESSIE Hughes is in no hurry to decide whether Hardy Eustace will bid for a third Champion Hurdle triumph or take the longer option in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Andrew McNamara believes last year’s winner Sublimity will still be the one to beat when Sizing Europe lines up against him in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.