An excellent start to the Cheltenham Festival has fuelled Donald McCain’s confidence ahead of Peddlers Cross’ bid for glory in the Jewson Novices’ Chase.

AS the monkey said when he got his tail cut: “it won’t be long now”.

Philip Hobbs believes the stronger guaranteed pace in the Racing Post Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival will be of great benefit to Menorah.

Donald McCain is considering whether to let Peddlers Cross join some of his stable companions for a gallop after racing at Bangor today.

This has traditionally been the time of year when Binocular causes Nicky Henderson a major problem, but the trainer believes his troublesome gelding could just be in the shape to redeem himself in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Connections of Sprinter Sacre’s Arkle Trophy rivals are likely to be quaking in their boots after the giant gelding produced a devastating performance in the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury yesterday.

Defending champion Hurricane Fly is among 27 horses entered for the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13.

COLM MURPHY has been left puzzled by Quito De La Roque’s performance in the Lexus Chase.

BARRY Geraghty has reiterated his belief Kempton winner Sprinter Sacre is one of the best two-mile chasers he has ever ridden.

Sprinter Sacre emerged clear favourite for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham when destroying Peddlers Cross with a thrilling round of jumping in the williamhill.com Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

Donald McCain insists the presence of Sprinter Sacre was never going to deter him from running his star turn Peddlers Cross in an exciting renewal of the Williamhill.com Novices’ Chase at Kempton tomorrow.

THE Giant Bolster can put another dent in the reputation of Time For Rupert in the Betfair Graduation Chase at Newbury today.

Peddlers Cross is not a definite runner at Haydock on Saturday due to trainer Donald McCain’s concerns about testing conditions.

Donald McCain admits Peddlers Cross faces a sterner test than he did on his fencing debut as he returns to Bangor for tomorrow’s Malise Nicolson Bright Future Novices’ Chase.

HENRY de Bromhead is weighing up the options for Sizing Europe following his highly creditable performance at Down Royal last weekend.

Jason Maguire is in a race against time to partner Peddlers Cross on his chasing debut at Bangor on November 9.

Peddlers Cross is back in light training, with Donald McCain relishing the prospect of his star turn embarking upon a novice chasing campaign in the autumn.

I HAVE had it in my head for a long time that The Midnight Club could be an ideal Grand National candidate and am obviously very much looking forward to riding him at Aintree this afternoon.

SURELY a case of dropping what you are doing shortly before 4.15pm today, and tuning in to the greatest spectacle in racing, the Aintree Grand National.

“HE will be some horse if he ever settles,” quipped Ruby Walsh, after he had powered Willie Mullins’ Hurricane Fly to a glorious victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

THE sun is shining; the Taoiseach is gallivanting for Washington and Tracy Piggott is smiling so much she could be galloping down to Thomond Park of a Friday night.

HURRICANE FLY, deprived of the opportunity to run at the festival for the last two years because of niggling injuries, can leave all of that frustration behind by landing the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Hurricane Fly bids to lay a ghost to rest after finally making an elusive first trip to Cheltenham to contest today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

WHEN at Sandown last Saturday, I decided to give Willie Mullins a ring in an effort to firm up some plans for Cheltenham.

WHEN I interviewed Nicky Henderson at his festival media day last month he admitted the six weeks before the meeting were difficult, taxing ones, for a trainer.

Hurricane Fly bids to lay a ghost to rest after finally making an elusive first trip to Cheltenham to contest Tuesday’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Donald McCain is confident Peddlers Cross is at the peak of his powers as he puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

NICKY HENDERSON has nominated Hurricane Fly as the biggest threat to Binocular in his defence of the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Bogside finally opened his account at the fifth attempt in the Kelso Members Novices' Hurdle at the Scottish venue this afternoon.

ROBBIE Hennessy’s 2007 Champion Hurdle hero Sublimity is poised to lock horns with Peddlers Cross in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Thursday.

WATAMU BAY, as low as 10-1 for the four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, has been put down after suffering an injury on the gallops.

DONALD McCAIN is keeping his fingers crossed his Champion Hurdle hope Peddlers Cross will still be able to make a racecourse appearance before Cheltenham after a setback ruled him out of this weekend’s engagements.

DONALD McCAIN admits the nerves are starting to kick in as Peddlers Cross puts his unbeaten record on the line in the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

HURRICANE FLY will face a maximum of six rivals in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown after Dunguib was ruled out of Sunday’s Grade One feature with a minor blood disorder.

Hurricane Fly spearheads seven confirmations for Sunday’s BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

How strange is it to look at the programme for today and to see the King George and the Christmas Hurdle being run at Kempton?

Peddlers Cross made a smooth transition to full company as he landed the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury today.

BINOCULAR will get the chance to erase the memory of last year’s no-show when he lines up in the stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury today.

WITH the Fighting Fifth Hurdle being moved to Newbury, we have a proper day’s racing.

Reve De Sivola, runner-up to the brilliant Peddlers Cross at Cheltenham, is set to bid for rich compensation at Punchestown next week.

DONALD McCAIN is confident Peddlers Cross will not suffer the dreaded ‘bounce factor’ in the John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree today.

Willie Mullins has 13 entries as he chases a third successive victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 17.