The New One appears to face a straightforward task in today’s StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

Stuart Crawford could call upon the services of AP McCoy to partner Yes Tom in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

Tom Mullins reports stable stalwarts Alderwood and Fosters Cross in fine shape ahead of the Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase at Wexford today.

Fran Flood was thrilled to see Miss Xian narrowly oupoint Bothair Clei in a pulsating climax to the Woodlands Park 100 Club Leinster National at Naas yesterday.

Debutant Sizinguptheamazon proved the star of yesterday’s action in Clonmel, turning over odds-on favourite Augustin in the bumper, the Ardfinnan Flat Race.

Versatile veteran Glenquest is set to tackle the Eider Chase in Newcastle on February 21 following his emphatic win in the Bet With The Tote Handicap Hurdle in Down Royal yesterday.

Spacious Sky should make Ruby Walsh’s trip to Down Royal worthwhile by landing the Bet With The Tote Handicap Hurdle today.

The sky looks the limit for Vautour as last season’s top novice hurdler made an impressive debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at Navan yesterday.

Cillian’s Return, bought out of Bill Farrell’s by J P McManus after taking a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, made a winning start for his new connections when easily taking the Michael Maher Building And Construction Services Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

Proud Scotsman Alan King believes Godsmejudge could be coming back to form at the right time ahead of his defence of the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Yes Tom, the 14/1 outsider of five runners, continued Stuart Crawford’s rich vein of form when landing the Daily Mirror Chase in Down Royal yesterday.

The ex-French mare Adriana Des Mottes, who created a very favourable impression on her Irish debut, gets the nap in the Grade 2 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Briar Hill appears likely to go up in trip when he returns to the Cheltenham Festival in March following his rather workmanlike victory in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

The bumper at Navan on December 15, won by Willie Mullins’ Royal Caviar, was rather interesting.

Donald McCain and Jason Maguire took the honours with a pre-Christmas treble at Catterick yesterday.

Shark Hanlon expects Alfa Beat to be his first runner in the John Smith’s Grand National.

DESSIE HUGHES believes Rivage D’Or’s ability to handle testing conditions will stand him in good stead at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

SIZING EUROPE and Sizing Symphony, Henry de Bromhead’s two runners at Sandown’s two-day meeting, have arrived safely in Britain.

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GRAND National-winning jockey Robbie Power believes the bookmakers have got it wrong regarding his mount Killyglen in Saturday’s John Smith’s sponsored spectacular at Aintree.

SHOW jumpers Jessica Kürten and Billy Twomey continued their dominance of the four-star show in Barcelona, Spain, at the weekend, claiming a one-two, respectively, in Saturday’s grand prix, while the Cork man also ended his show with a hat-trick.

In many ways it is a complete anachronism in modern racing terms, but the La Touche Cup, run over Punchestown’s legendary ‘banks course’, is a uniquely Irish event which demands a combination of the disparate arts of steeplechasing and hunting from the combatants in this single eventful race.