Alan Fleming felt Starluck was unsuited by the ground when a slightly disappointing third in the rearranged Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

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?

Nicky Henderson believes the soft ground at Kempton today could dent Binocular’s greatest asset in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle.

I just hope Kempton passes an inspection this afternoon, because otherwise St Stephen’s Day is going to have a very bare appearance indeed.

Starluck put the finishing touches to his preparations for the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle with a pleasing workout at Kempton Park.

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.

PUNJABI will bid to rebuild his slightly tarnished reputation in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Punjabi will bid to rebuild his slightly tarnished reputation in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

WHEN you take an opinion on horses in a race, it's more often the case that you're dogmatic about one that you believe cannot win than one that you think can.

INSTEAD of teaming up with the likes of Big Buck’s, Pepe Simo and Big Fella Thanks at Ascot today, I will be spending the afternoon at home.

I’D imagine many of the readers of this paper will think the big race of the weekend is the Cork Grand National tomorrow, so let’s start with that.

Starluck leaped into the Champion Hurdle picture as he oozed class in winning the sportingbet.com Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Check out our tips from today’s horse races across Ireland and the UK.

I’M at Cheltenham today for four rides for Paul Nicholls, on what is probably best described as a low-profile meeting by the high standards of that great track.

Alan Fleming is planning to give Starluck a spin on the Flat before turning his attentions to the forthcoming jumps season.

Triumph Hurdle runner-up Walkon has gone one better with a very impressive display in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

RUBY WALSH believes Cooldine has to markedly improve to trouble Kauto Star in next year’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A young Irish trainer has the chance to put his name on the map in no uncertain fashion today — but it won’t have been by conventional means. Alan Fleming spoke to Declan Colley

ALAN Fleming is understandably cautious as he prepares to saddle Starluck, his first Cheltenham Festival runner, in today’s JCB Triumph Hurdle.