Crabbie’s Grand National entry Goonyella is to have his first start of the year in Thursday’s Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

Lexus Chase hero Pandorama remains set for a return to Leopardstown for the Hennessy Gold Cup on February 6.

We’ve had a bit of an up and down week — highlighted by the contrasting fortunes of Bostons Angel in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novices’ Chase and Saludos in the Grade 1 Bord Na Mona With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown earlier in the week.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has admitted to being surprised at the progress Take The Breeze has made since his switch to fences this season.

Andy Stewart has hinted that ante-post favourite Tatenen could bid to make all the running in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Willie Mullins’ J’y Vole had her winning run brought to an abrupt end in the Woodlands Park 100 Nas Na Riogh Chase at Naas as Liam Burke’s Thyne Again ran out an emphatic winner.

Maralan has got his colourful trainer Oliver Brady dreaming of the Cheltenham Festival after a second success inside seven days at Naas.

A high-class field of seven take their chance in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

WILLIE MULLINS is in no hurry to assign a Cheltenham Festival target for Glencove Marina, who jumped to prominence with a commanding display at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Venalmar earned a 33-1 quote for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after a battling performance at Naas.

JUSTIFIED will attempt to get his career back on track when tackling two and a half miles for the first time in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Justified will attempt to get his career back on track when tackling two and a half miles for the first time in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Martin Brassil is likely to begin planning for the Cheltenham Festival if Nickname puts up a good show in the Grade Two Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

WEATHERBYS Champion Bumper hero Missed That continued his rapid progress over fences as he pulled out all the stops to lift the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

RATHGAR BEAU remains a possible contender for the William Hill - Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown on December 3 despite having the Hilly Way Chase at Cork eight days later as his main target.

Eamonn Sheehy has nominated the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 26 as the next major target for his unbeaten rising star Justified.

CHRISTY ROCHE believes he has found a reason for Like-A-Butterfly’s poor performance at Leopardstown last Sunday.

PAUL NOLAN has outlined plans for his two exciting stars Accordion Etoile and Cloone River, who will probably both run once before the Cheltenham Festival.