Hurdle marker in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham and although he's just a four-year-old with plenty of scope for improvement, one senses that this afternoon's race will define the horse’s hurdling ambitions for the remainder of his career.

CHARLES BYRNES believes this weekend’s StanJames.com International at Cheltenham is a realistic target for his intended runner Pittoni.

THE economy is in tatters, the dole offices are packed, many at work are on reduced wages, but racing, thank you very much, is swinging along just nicely.

WILLIE MULLINS continued in superb form when completing a magnificent four-timer at Punchestown yesterday, highlighted by Thousand Stars’ all-the-way win in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle.

Thousand Stars made every yard of the running under Ruby Walsh to run out a comfortable winner of the Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

IF we keep in-form Willie Mullins on our side this weekend then there is surely a fair chance of showing a profit!

TODAY is all about Kauto Star and his attempt to hold back time and take on some of the best horses around in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

HURRICANE FLY could be seen next at Leopardstown over Christmas after Willie Mullins ruled out a run in Sunday’s Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

PAUL Nicholls has confirmed Ruby Walsh will ride Kauto Star in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock, leaving Daryl Jacob to partner Master Minded at Ascot.

Hurricane Fly heads a field of just six possibles for the Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

CHAMPION hurdler Hurricane Fly leads the entries for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on November 20.

THE victory of even-money favourite Pozyc in the featured Edmond Whelan Memorial Handicap Hurdle proved the highlight of a double for champion trainer Willie Mullins at yesterday’s rescheduled meeting in Listowel.

BUY BACK BOB can send punters home from the Listowel festival this afternoon on the perfect note by landing the M J Carroll ARRO Maiden Hurdle.

BLAZING TEMPO, who has clearly been laid out for the race, can land the tote.com Galway Plate at Ballybrit this afternoon.

FOSTERS CROSS gets a hopeful nod to land the valuable Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse today.

THE Dermot Weld trained Notable Graduate toyed with the opposition on the way to landing the Curragh Racecourse Members’ Maiden at Tipperary last night.

DERMOT WELD and Pat Smullen are the combination to follow at the first meeting of the year at Tipperary this evening.

IT was ‘Davy Russell Day’, again, at Leopardstown yesterday when the Cork rider completed a superb treble on Westmeath, Stonemaster and Pittoni to bring his tally to seven winners in the last three days, following doubles at Navan on both Friday and Saturday.

PITTONI is well capable of sending punters home from Listowel today on the perfect note by landing the concluding Slan Abhaile Race.

SOLWHIT will not bid for back-to-back wins in the Aintree Hurdle at Liverpool and will instead go to Punchestown if conditions are suitable.

PHILIP Hobbs believes Qaspal will need plenty of luck just to get a run at Cheltenham despite his battling victory in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup.

Edward O’Grady’s Alaivan heads up 29 possibles for Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

NICANOR, who once beat Denman at the Cheltenham Festival, should be finally ready to strike over fences in the Trim Beginners Chase at Navan this afternoon.

MORNING SUPREME is the nap choice to run her rivals ragged in the Grade 2 paddypower.com Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow.

Joncol is only 50-50 to participate at the Cheltenham Festival despite his battling success in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

THE Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown tomorrow centres on which Cooldine turns up. If the one which landed the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March appears then there can only be one winner.

PITTONI gets the nap to make it two from two over flights in the Visit Punchestown.com Juvenile Hurdle at the County Kildare track this afternoon, should the meeting pass a 7.30am inspection.

FOOTY Facts proved himself on course for a crack at the Thyestes at Gowran Park in three weeks when slamming veteran Hardy Eustace in the Kathleen Clarke 80th Birthday Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday, when snow showers resulted in the County Kildare track adopting a seasonal look.

THE promising Midas Touch should be hard to beat in the TRI Equestrian Maiden at the Curragh this afternoon.

AN enterprising ride by Fran Berry earned Duff a Group 3 breakthrough success in the Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown last night.

JOHN OXX and Michael Kinane are fancied to continue their tremendous season by teaming up with Pittoni to take the Clonard Maiden at Leopardstown tonight.

ON the eve of a busy Guineas weekend at the Curragh, Johnny Murtagh bagged an early double on a rare visit to Wexford last night, scoring on Anam Chara and long odds-on favourite Yankee Doodle.