Officials at Leopardstown will monitor weather conditions heading into today’s second day of the Christmas meeting with high winds and heavy rain forecast.

David Elsworth, trainer of the legendary Desert Orchid, believes Long Run is the horse to beat in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Paul Nicholls has confirmed the incredible Kauto Star has run his final race.

With Frankel’s final hurrah seemingly only hours away, his retirement will leave a big hole in the racing fraternity.

Josh Gifford, one of British racing’s best known and most loved figures, died in the early hours of yesterday morning at the age of 70.

Kauto Star sent Kempton Park racegoers into a state of mass hysteria and consolidated his position as the most acclaimed National Hunt horse since Arkle with an unprecedented fifth victory in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

SIZING EUROPE continued to shorten up as favourite for Saturday’s Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase after major rival Finian’s Rainbow was ruled out yesterday.

Philip Hobbs believes Wishfull Thinking will not lack for pace when he drops in distance for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

KAUTO STAR’S bid to land a record fifth successive William Hill King George VI Chase has been put on ice.

Owner Clive Smith will have his fingers crossed when Kauto Star returns to action at Down Royal on Saturday in what could possibly be the top chaser’s final campaign.

Captain Chris rewarded the smattering of racegoers at Kempton with a performance of genuine substance in the Bet Multiples - Betdaq 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

Kauto Star’s brilliant display in winning the King George VI Chase for a record fourth successive time has earned him the right to be compared to the mighty Arkle.

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford is ready to get behind Kauto Star as he bids for a remarkable fourth successive triumph in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

Should Kauto Star outstrip the record of the great Desert Orchid at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, David Elsworth will be with him every step of the way.

The possibility of soft ground at the Cheltenham Festival is still on the agenda as more rain hit Gloucestershire overnight.

IT has been a year of good-byes in so many ways. From the murder of former heavyweight boxer Trevor Berbick to the deaths of Tiger Woods’ father Earl and even the great grey chaser Desert Orchid; sport has lost some of its greatest shapers, influences and heroes.

I AGREE with Cathy Brady (Irish Examiner letters, November 27) who wrote about your racing correspondent Pat Keane’s comments on the death of Desert Orchid.

TESTING conditions would not undermine Paul Nicholls’ confidence in Kauto Star for the William Hill – Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown tomorrow.

Testing conditions would not undermine Paul Nicholls’ confidence in Kauto Star for the William Hill Tingle Creek Chase.

Philip Hobbs has confirmed his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hopefuls on target for the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival, which gets underway on Tuesday.

Triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate is likely to be remembered at the scene of his greatest triumphs in the form of a statue.

TRAINER Robert Alner yesterday revealed that Sir Rembrandt, second and third respectively in the 2004 and 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cups, will miss the John Smith’s Grand National but his participation in the £150,000 Betfair Bowl, run on Thursday, April 7, is still under consideration.

FAIRYTALES are supposed to be the province of Hans Christian Andersen, but the Cheltenham Festival once again proved its ability yesterday to weave the most incredible stories together when Kicking King won the Gold Cup for Ireland.

Florida Pearl will return to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs next Sunday.

The jumps programme book will provide bedtime reading for Nigel Twiston-Davies over the next couple of nights after Fundamentalist left the trainer starry-eyed and dreaming of the future with an impressive victory in the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham today.

A weekend of trials closed with an emphatic victory for Vodafone Derby favourite Yeats in Ireland yesterday, while the horse to make the biggest impact on the Classic picture in Britain was undoubtedly Salford City.

Few horses will ever match the popularity of Desert Orchid.