CHAMPION CHASE hero Sizing Europe remains on course for next month’s Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown ahead of the defence of his Cheltenham crown.

RUBY Walsh insists the decision to ride The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday week is not one he has taken lightly.

TWENTY-FOUR horses, and all the big names, remain in the reckoning at the latest forfeit stage for next month’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

DONALD McCAIN admits the nerves are starting to kick in as Peddlers Cross puts his unbeaten record on the line in the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

Master Minded heads a field of nine left in Saturday’s Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

ANDREW Lynch is confident a lack of stamina will not be an issue when Sizing Europe pits his wits against Kauto Star at Down Royal on Saturday.

Henry de Bromhead’s Arkle winner Sizing Europe will face 10 rivals as he tackles more experienced horses in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.

Twist Magic made amends for his defeat in the Victor Chandler Chase two years ago with a superb all-the-way win in the Ascot feature.

THE countdown to Cheltenham has really started now and it promises to be a revealing weekend, between Ascot and Haydock this afternoon and the two days at Leopardstown.

Twist Magic faces seven rivals as he bids for back-to-back Grade One successes in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

DUAL winner Master Minded heads 24 entries for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

AIR FORCE ONE will bypass the rescheduled Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday and go straight to Cheltenham.

Master Minded had no trouble in landing the cramped odds of 1-4 in the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

Paul Nicholls hurls Twist Magic and Natal back into the breach at Exeter on Tuesday.

JAMIE SPENCER may be a double champion Flat jockey, but the meeting he looks forward to watching the most is the Cheltenham Festival.

OFFICIALS at Ascot and Haydock are optimistic their meetings today will beat the wet weather that continues to hit jump racing.

PAUL Nicholls has red-hot favourite Twist Magic “in seriously good order” for the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot today.

Paul Nicholls has red-hot favourite Twist Magic “in seriously good order” for the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot tomorrow.

Twist Magic heads 15 entries for the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on January 19.

Ascot have called a 9am inspection for Friday ahead of Saturday’s meeting.

Thierry Doumen expects Foreman’s next start to be in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury next month.

ONEWAY must defy top weight of 11st 10lb if he is to emerge triumphant in Saturday’s Victor Chandler Chase – but handler Mark Rimell is unconcerned by his welter burden.

ONEWAY must carry top weight if he lines up in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Oneway must carry top weight if he lines up in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Al Eile will not defend his crown in the bonusprint.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock on Saturday.

TRAINERS Mark Rimell and Noel Chance have different feelings about the prospective rise in the weights for the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday week.

NOEL MEADE has reported that Harchibald will not be travelling over to Kempton to contest the Christmas Hurdle.

NATIONAL HUNT icon Desert Orchid died peacefully yesterday morning at the age of 27.

Paul Nolan admits time is running out for Cloone River to prove his fitness in time for the Cheltenham Festival.

Punters faced another disappointing Saturday as the high-profile meetings at Newbury and Warwick fell victim to the weather.

Mick Fitzgerald is looking forward to teaming up with Kauto Star for the second time in tomorrow’s totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Mark Rimell is 'desperate' to get a run into stable star Oneway in Saturday's totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Officials at Sandown are “very hopeful” of Saturday’s big card, which includes the rearranged Victor Chandler Chase, beating the weather.

MARK PITMAN believes the abandonment of last Saturday’s Victor Chandler Chase could be a blessing in disguise for Dempsey.

Paul Nicholls’ Albuhera and Mark Pitman’s Dempsey have been installed as 5-1 joint-favourites with the sponsors for the rearranged Victor Chandler Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

This afternoon’s high-profile meeting at Cheltenham has been abandoned due to frost.

Saturday’s meeting at Cheltenham is subject to a precautionary inspection at 7am in the morning.

Cheltenham are taking every precaution to ensure Saturday’s big meeting, featuring the Victor Chandler Chase and Letheby & Christopher Chase, goes ahead.

Mister McGoldrick is set to take his chance in Saturday’s Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham, ruling out any rise in the weights.

NOEL MEADE has reported his Tolworth Hurdle absentee Iktitaf fine after an examination on returning to his yard in Navan.

CLOONE RIVER has been ruled out of the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham after suffering a setback.

Cloone River has been ruled out of the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham after suffering a setback.