PAUL NICHOLLS reports ante-post favourite Big Buck’s to be in fine shape ahead of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Saturday.

CHARLIE Mann has Air Force One in “the form of his life” as he prepares his six-year-old for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, for which 31 horses stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup favourite Big Buck’s has, along with 30 others, stood his ground at the latest forfeit stage for the prestigious handicap.

Trainer Noel Meade rattled off a superb 64-1 four-timer at Navan, his local track, thanks to wins from Pandorama, Watson Lake, Aran Concerto and Across The Bay.

Dual Grade One winner Mansony makes his seasonal reappearance in the Ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase at Navan on Sunday.

Neptune Collonges is on course to bid for back-to-back victories in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup later this month.

Timmy Murphy was overcome with emotion after Comply Or Die ensured his topsy-turvy career hit an all-time high in Saturday’s Grand National.

TIMMY Murphy, who is still on cloud nine after winning the John Smith’s Grand National aboard Comply Or Die, says the famous triumph gave him an “unbelievable feeling”.

Timmy Murphy gave the David Pipe-trained Comply Or Die a superb ride to win the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Forty horses take on the four miles and four furlongs and thirty fences of the Aintree Grand National this afternoon.

David Pipe can take another step towards emulating his father’s fantastic achievements by winning the John Smith’s Grand National with Comply Or Die.

Tom Mullins believes John Smith’s Grand National candidate Chelsea Harbour ticks all the right boxes for Saturday’s Aintree spectacular.

PAUL Nicholls is doing his best to secure the services of Ruby Walsh for Turko, whom he fancies “quite strongly” for the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Tom Taaffe admits Slim Pickings faces a different task in a closer-knit John Smith’s Grand National this year.

A second Cheltenham Festival winner moved a step closer for Tralee handler Tom Cooper as River Liane produced a special performance in the Madigans Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Snowy Morning is now the 10-1 clear favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National following the publication of the weights.

ANTE-POST punters have suffered a blow yesterday when trainer Martin Brassil revealed Numbersixvalverde had not been entered for the John Smith’s Grand National after failing to make sufficient progress from injury.

Denman and The Listener both feature among the 12 preliminary entries for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

DENMAN has been installed as the 4-1 favourite by totesport for Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, despite having to carry top weight.

As expected, Denman will have to shoulder top-weight if he is to win the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury this weekend.

Slim Pickings, third in this year’s John Smith’s Grand National, could next run in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup after pleasing connections on his return at Naas.

Gordon Elliott is hoping Silver Birch's Grand National win can kickstart his fledgling training career.

Irish raider Silver Birch caused a minor surprise as he claimed the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

THE exciting Catch Me has to be the choice to land the 22-runner Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle at Naas this afternoon.

Rathgar Beau has been retired after suffering a recurrence of an old leg problem in the National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran.

THE veteran Adamant Approach can lead his rivals a merry dance in the Grade Two National Lottery Agent Champion ‘Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

KEVIN PRENDERGAST’S Rio can leave a minor bout of seconditis behind by landing the Munster Maiden at Limerick this afternoon.

Jubilant trainer John Murphy will weigh up the options before deciding whether to step his brilliant two-mile chaser Newmill up in trip next season.

THOSE who thought Newmill's powerful display when landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham was something of a fluke had their answer at the opening stage of the Punchestown Festival yesterday.

Missed That bounced back to form with victory in the Ellier Developments Novice Chase.

DERMOT WELD has high hopes for Nightime, a daughter of Galileo and owned by his mother, Gita, which won the Coolmore Spartacus Maiden before a huge crowd at Cork yesterday.

Paul Carberry warmed up for Beef Or Salmon’s big-race success in the best way possible when he gave Rosaker a vintage ride to win the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN went through an agonising twenty minutes or so at Cork on Saturday.

JUSTIFIED is fancied to get the better of a fascinating head-to-head with Wild Passion in the Volkswagen Jetta Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

BROGELLA looks the bet of the weekend in Ireland in the opening Mares Novice Hurdle at Clonmel tomorrow.