COLM MURPHY got a little boost, on the lead-in to Big Zeb’s challenge for next week’s Champion Chase at Cheltenham, when Dangan Daylight landed the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

THE Jimmy Mangan-trained Oscar Delta lit up yesterday’s well-attended Kildorrery Point to Point meeting, staged on the Vaughan family’s farm at Rockmills Stud, by sluicing home in the Open Lightweight.

FOLLOWING the defections of Rince Ri and Timbera earlier this week from Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National at Liverpool, Jimmy Mangan yesterday issued an upbeat bulletin on last year’s Aintree hero, Monty’s Pass.

JIMMY MANGAN is laid-back by nature and rarely gets flustered. Come 3.45 on Saturday, however, his heart will surely miss a beat as the field swivels to face the starter for the 2003 Grand National at Aintree.