Celestial Halo will have other targets than the Cheltenham Festival despite enjoying a belated return to the winner's enclosure in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell today.

Long Run spoiled the party as he scuppered Kauto Star's bid for a record fifth triumph in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Noel Fehily looks to have earned a late reprieve to ride at Cheltenham's big two-day meeting which gets under way on Friday.

After quite a civilised Festival in terms of Betfair activity, there were some significant winners and losers on Friday's Cheltenham card.

FOUR impossible-to-solve handicaps, on a six-race programme, make Cheltenham this afternoon a less than enticing prospect.

Sam Thomas was this morning airlifted to hospital after suffering a bad fall on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy believes he learnt plenty from riding Denman in the Aon Chase at Newbury despite the pair failing to complete the course.

Newbury have made an early move in an attempt to beat the frost ahead of Saturday's big meeting.

Saturday's Sandown winner Tasheba has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb in the Ladbroke at Ascot on December 19.

Ruby Walsh is excited about the prospect of teaming up with Denman in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup, despite the fact he is forced to carry top weight.

Emma Lavelle admits Kangaroo Court's participation in tomorrow's totetentofollow Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton is ground dependant.

Kalahari King has run out an impressive winner of the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase.

Jonjo O'Neill's stable star Exotic Dancer died after suffering a heart attack following the totesport Bowl at Aintree today.

Little new was learned about Pride of Dulcote as he confirmed his place at the Cheltenham Festival by winning a two-horse race at Wincanton.

Big Fella Thanks, carrying the famous colours of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman, chose the valuable Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster to open his account over fences.

Dominic Elsworth's late dash to Doncaster after Cheltenham was abandoned paid handsome dividends when he grabbed a 24-1 double on Laskari and Victorias Groom.

First reserve Ardaghey has been drafted into the field for tomorrow's Grand National at Aintree.

Kauto Star has reached his highest ever official rating following his King George VI Chase romp at Kempton on St Stpehen’s Day.

A dream weekend for Sam Thomas hit new heights as Mr Pointment made virtually all to score over the famous Grand National fences in the totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree.

Ruby Walsh is confident he can waste down to close to the minimum weight in order to give Granit Jack his optimum chance in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Kauto Star is 7-4 favourite with Coral to make a winning seasonal debut in the bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday.

Course specialist Exotic Dancer gets the nod to land the totesport Gold Cup at the final stage of the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.

MONET'S GARDEN, a horse who jumps for fun, is the nap choice to land the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

The fine weather in Gloucestershire over the last few days has dried the ground enough for Jonjo O'Neill to declare Black Jack Ketchum, despite his reservations over soft ground.

Monet's Garden exorcised the demons that haunted him at Kempton over Christmas as he landed his first Grade One success in the Commercial First Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track.

THE layers were left reeling after Charles Byrnes' Cailin Alainn kept her unbeaten record over fences with a terrific display in the other Grade 1 on the card at Leopardstown yesterday, the Powers' Whiskey Novice Chase.

Kauto Star can confirm his status as the best chaser in the UK by taking the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on a bumper St Stephen's Day action.

ENDA BOLGER believes class act Royal Auclair could be the one to foil Spot Thedifference's attempt to win the Sporting Index Chase for the third year running at Cheltenham today.

Enda Bolger believes class act Royal Auclair could be the one to foil Spot The difference's attempt to win the Sporting Index Chase for the third year running at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Classy Flat performer Percussionist appears to have found his niche in the winter game after leaving a disappointing hurdling campaign behind with an impressive first run over fences in the bet365 Beginners' Chase at Wetherby.

Sam Thomas has been appointed second jockey to Ruby Walsh at Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard.

WHAT a fantastic time to be associated with National Hunt racing in Ireland.

Moscow Flyer will be looking to claim a third victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham today.

KAUTO STAR, the youngest horse in the contest, can land the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

LETITIA’S LOSS is fancied to score in the gruelling Racecourse Video Services Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield today.

MONKERHOSTIN is likely to head straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup after connections opted to bypass the Ascot totesport Chase at Lingfield on Saturday.

THIERRY DOUMEN is hoping Foreman will show enough at Lingfield today to merit a place at the Cheltenham Festival.

IT takes two to tango and, on that basis, it will be disappointing should Mouse Morris decide to sidestep Saturday's James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal with War Of Attrition.

GREY ABBEY has been installed as 7-2 second favourite with the sponsors for back-to-back successes in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

GOWRAN PARK this afternoon plays host to a seven-race programme, completely dedicated to point-to-pointers.

Pat Keane

AZERTYUIOP is the choice to land what promises to be the race of the meeting, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, at Cheltenham this afternoon.

TODAY’S Tingle Creek Chase encounter at Sandown between Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer is being touted by the racing world as one of the sport’s great showdowns, and few can possibly doubt that the prospect of these two Champion Chase winners clashing once more could go down in the annals of the sport as a genuine ‘never-to-be-forgotten’ moment.

ONLY four entries have been received for the William Hill — Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.