Neil Mulholland’s Mad Max heads 15 runners declared for the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

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

IT was the kind of result which makes bookmakers glad they took out a licence in the first place.

Kauto Star was pulled up as Follow The Plan won a dramatic race for the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup at the County Kildare track.

Kauto Star faces seven rivals as he tries to regain the winning thread in Wednesday’s Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup.

Know nothing about horse racing? Let us guide you to the best bets in this weekend's Grand National.

Dessie Hughes feels Vic Venturi and In Compliance are ready to do themselves justice in the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday.

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.

Midnight Chase and Synchronised are the most notable absentees following the confirmation stage for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Amateur Ciaran Murphy will remember St. Patrick’s Day 2011 for a long time, having completed a fine double on Good Egg and Shadow Eile at Down Royal.

Dessie Hughes may give his two John Smith’s Grand National entries, Vic Venturi and In Compliance, another outing before the big day at Aintree in April following encouraging efforts this week.

HIDDEN CYCLONE continued his rise up the ranks with a gusty display to land the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

ALL roads lead to Aintree on April 9 following the Grade 2 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase, won by The Midnight Club, at Fairyhouse yesterday as the first four home are all bound for the John Smiths Grand National.

THE Grade 2 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon promises a fascinating contest, should the meeting survive an 8am inspection, with five of the nine runners gearing up for a possible tilt at the Aintree Grand National on April 9.

“Recently Irish horses have done really, really well.”

LEOPARDSTOWN yesterday announced the entries for the 4 Grade 1 races on Sunday, February 6, the featured Hennessy Gold Cup, Dr PJ Moriarty Chase, Deloitte Novice Hurdle and the Spring Juvenile Hurdle.

Former Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Dunguib is among 16 preliminary entries for the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on Saturday.

Edward O’Grady is among a legion of Irish trainers gladdened by a break in the weather as his Tranquil Sea returns to the track seeking his first Grade One win in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Fairyhouse.

KAUTO STAR is the surprise name among 66 possibles for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on November 27.

Brian Harding has confirmed he has broken his arm after a fall at Kelso yesterday.

THE Aintree Grand National reminds me of JFK or Elvis. People remember where they were when they heard that the American president had been shot dead in Dallas in 1963. It’s the same with the news that The King had passed away 14 years later.

ROGER LOUGHRAN will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in today’s Grand National after jockey Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Roger Loughran will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in the John Smith’s Grand National after Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Past winners Mon Mome (2009) and Comply Or Die (2008) are among a maximum field of 40 declared for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

DAVID CASEY has been cleared to ride in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday despite taking a bad fall at Fairyhouse on Monday.

DAVID CASEY is hoping to go two places better than two years ago when he renews his association with Snowy Morning in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES is hoping to have six runners in the John Smith’s Grand National as he seeks a third success in the Aintree showpiece.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is hoping to have six runners in the John Smith’s Grand National as he seeks a third success in the Aintree showpiece.

Backstage is all set for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree following his prep race on unsuitable ground at Navan on Saturday when he was last of eight finishers behind Glencove Marina.

DENIS O’REGAN is likely to be back aboard Black Apalachi for the gelding’s third attempt at the John Smith’s Grand National.

AIR Force One should deny last year’s winner One Cool Cookie in the Guinness Chase, feature of the St. Patrick’s Day action at Down Royal.

Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere head the weights on 11st 10lb for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 10.

EACH of the last three winners of the John Smith’s Grand National have been entered for the 2010 renewal on April 10.

GLENFINN Captain, successful in the race a year ago, can do the business again in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel this afternoon.

IF racing at Clonmel survives an 8am inspection this morning it may pay to follow Dessie Hughes, who can continue his terrific campaign by saddling Vic Venturi to land the featured Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase.

“THERE was great pleasure in that”, remarked Tom Cooper, after he watched his son, Bryan, guide the trainer’s Rossdara to success in the Cahir Mares Maiden hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

OSCAR Carrara is fancied to continue the good run of Tom Mullins in the Bumper at Clonmel today.

Connections of Wichita Lineman are hoping top-weight Notre Pere takes his chance in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

Notre Pere has been declared for Monday’s Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, despite Jim Dreaper admitting to concerns about the ground being faster than ideal.

WICHITA Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

Wichita Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

QUEVEGA will be aimed at the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham following her impressive seasonal debut victory in the Book The Punchestown Pavilion At The Festival Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.