NEWMILL will be required to carry top weight should John Murphy let his charge take his chance in Sunday’s Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Rookie rider Paul Townend was the toast of Ballybrit as Indian Pace gave him the biggest victory of his fledgling career in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.

STEP OUTSIDE, who has yet to win a race, can finally deliver in the Fethard Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon.

Ebaziyan, winner of last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been handed top-weight of 11st 12lb for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 9.

Sunday’s card at Leopardstown, featuring the valuable Pierse Hurdle, will need to pass a 7.30am inspection on the morning of the meeting.

Gordon Elliott believes there is a big handicap to be won with Roman Villa this season as he prepares him for the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 13.

Butler's Cabin earned a quote of 33-1 for the 2008 John Smith's Grand National after pulling off a remarkable double with victory in the Powers Whiskey-sponsored Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse.

NOEL MEADE is set to establish which race Aran Concerto will run in at the Cheltenham Festival after the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Imperial Cup winner Victram is bang on target for another assault on a major handicap hurdle in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

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.

TOM MULLINS will walk the track before deciding whether to let his stable star Asian Maze take her chance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

EOIN GRIFFIN hopes ante-post favourite Kendor Dine can add his name to an illustrious roll of honour by winning tomorrow’s Pierse Hurdle – but believes his charge offers punters poor value.

WELL MOUNTED is a sporting nap choice to land the 30-runner Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

ROBERT TYNER is optimistic that Spring The Que can jump into the reckoning for Sunday’s Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

DUAL bumper and triple point-to-point winner Conna Castle is fancied to enjoy a first success over flights in the opening division of the Festival Hospitality Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

IRIS’S GIFT will go straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup without a prep run.

PENZANCE is the horse the sponsors fear in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Penzance is the horse the sponsors fear in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Trainer Christy Roche has ruled No Where To Hyde out of the totesport Trophy at Newbury as he feels the horse has been harshly treated by the handicapper.

Studmaster has given Moscow Flyer's trainer Jessica Harrington her first winner in 78 days with victory in the 27-runner Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Adrian McGuinness is hoping Timmy Murphy can work the oracle on Victram in a fiercely-competitive renewal of the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

PHILIP ROTHWELL believes Loughanelteen faces a tough task in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Philip Rothwell believes Loughanelteen faces a tough task in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

ALBUHERA was a surprise withdrawal from the totesport Trophy Hurdle at yesterday’s confirmation stage.

Barry Geraghty was once again the star of the show at Leopardstown today as he took the two most valuable races of the afternoon courtesy of Essex and Newmill.

ESSEX, who landed the Irish Cesarewitch last October, will bid to translate his ability to timber when he lines up as the hot favourite for the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Dancing Bay looks set to bypass the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday in favour of a trip to Uttoxeter the previous day.

EDWARD O’GRADY’S Pizarro left a poor display in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse solidly behind with a smashing performance to land the William Neville and Sons Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Venetia Williams’ Thesis earned top marks when the 33-1 chance stayed on best in the mud to take the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot today.

Ted Walsh’s Bob Justice and the Dermot Weld-trained Mutakarrim head the weights for the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 11.

THE UNEXPOSED Xenophon built on his solid debut in handicap company last time out to easily land the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

A TOTAL of 18 horses have been confirmed for the £120,000 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Norman Williamson has been forced to give up his rides at Plumpton today following a heavy fall at Leopardstown on Sunday.