A strong British challenge is still expected for the rearranged Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

WHEN we walk out of Leopardstown on Sunday night, chances are that the Cheltenham Festival picture will be a lot clearer.

A switch away from Kempton on St Stephen's Day provided Exotic Dancer with the chance to break through at the top level as Jonjo O’Neill’s stable star struck in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition could only finish third as Noland ran out a game winner of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

NICK Mitchell has not been able to find medical proof of anything amiss with The Listener but is certain the charismatic grey was not his usual old self at Down Royal last weekend.

Nick Mitchell has not been able to find medical proof of anything amiss with The Listener but is certain the charismatic grey was not his usual old self at Down Royal last weekend.

Kauto Star began his campaign in faultless fashion with an emphatic victory in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

THE executive must be smacking their collective lips in expectation of Kauto Star arriving for Saturday’s JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

BARRY GERAGHTY has been passed fit to ride former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King in The Star “Best For Racing Coverage” Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

Nick Mitchell expects a wide-open Ryanair Chase to develop into a real thriller at Cheltenham tomorrow.

ARE you, like me, totally confused when it comes to the Grade 1 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

ONE Cool Cookie is the choice to land a fascinating eight-runner Grade 2 MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles this afternoon.

Miko De Beauchene’s connections will scour the fixture book to find a race for him at the end of January or the beginning of February.

Denman led all the way to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in the style of a top-class performer.

Ferdy Murphy is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task which awaits L'Antartique at Leopardstown on Friday.

Ferdy Murphy is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task which awaits L’Antartique at Leopardstown on Friday.

Sunday’s impressive Punchestown winner The Listener has returned to his stable in Dorset, England, in much the same shape as when he left.

The Listener will face five rivals in tomorrow’s James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal – providing the ground is no quicker than good.

Taranis and The Listener could run in Saturday’s James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Robert Alner believes The Listener is a classier horse than Cool Dawn, whom he saddled to victory in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1998.

Beef Or Salmon raised the roof at Leopardstown as he recorded a remarkable 10th Grade One success with a last-gasp victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

THE LISTENER gets a confident vote to run his rivals ragged in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Robert Alner believes The Listener has every chance of giving him a second win in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Festival meeting.

Kingscliff is likely to be aimed at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup without a prep run.

TAKE a chance on Southern Vic creating a surprise in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.

With the weights for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup now in the public domain, the time is right for punters to snap up a bit of ante-post value for the Newbury feature.

Robert Alner hopes The Listener can develop into a contender for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sir Rembrandt could still take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National as long as he gets his favoured conditions at Aintree on April 8.

Andrew Thornton has been given a clean bill of health to ride at Cheltenham today.

Robert Alner completed the preparations for totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup second-favourite Kingscliff when sending out four horses for a secret post-racing gallop under the gathering gloom at Exeter this evening.

Connections of Iris’s Gift are hoping the grey can boost his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup prospects at Warwick tomorrow.

Ferdy Murphy does not expect Leading Man to cause an upset in a competitive renewal of the Unicoin Homes “Dipper” Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday.

The Listener gave an illustration of the old adage about jumping being the name of the game as he produced some thrilling leaps on his way to victory at Windsor.