Saphir Du Rheu is to undergo a breathing operation today following his lacklustre effort in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar will try to fill the void left by Big Buck’s when the Ditcheat duo run in today’s World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Davy Condon has decided not to appeal against the 15-day suspension and £3,150 fine handed to him by the Ascot stewards on Saturday.

It’s torture and in a way he’s tortured, but Pádraig Harrington has the good grace and awareness to realise he’s still one of the lucky ones.

As President Michael D Higgins prepares for his first state visit to Britain, Conor Power takes a look at Windsor Castle, the preferred home of Queen Elizabeth, and finds there’s a lot more to see in the town.

Proud owner Andy Stewart insists Big Buck’s remains at the top of his game at the age of 11 and expects him to fight all the way in an attempt to regain his stayers’ crown at Cheltenham.

Sam Twiston-Davies insists he will treat the ride on Big Buck’s no differently to any other as the record-breaking staying hurdler makes his return from more than a year’s absence at Cheltenham today.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis believes the fact Tony McCoy will be reunited with At Fishers Cross in today’s Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot is a massive plus.

Tom Scudamore feels a more generous pace in Saturday’s Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot could finally get the best out of the wayward Grands Crus.

Former president Mary Robinson has paid tribute to Nelson Mandela as a man “who lived the values he talked about”.

Jim Culloty believes there is further improvement in Lord Windermere after he ran a creditable race in defeat in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

KEITH RICHARDS was somewhere around Oughterard, on the edge of Lough Corrib, when the craving began to take hold.

Trainer Nick Williams believes Thursday’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle is far from a two-horse race.

Nicky Henderson insists Grandouet remains on course for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday despite taking an alarming drift on the betting exchanges yesterday afternoon.

BIG BUCK’S appears to face a straightforward task as he goes in search of a 15th straight victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

TODAY at Ascot is all about Big Buck’s and his attempt to make it 14 wins in-a-row in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Lie Forrit, a smart staying hurdler two seasons ago, made a winning return to action in the John Smith’s Paris Pike Novices’ Chase at Kelso.

SATURDAY’S reopened StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham has attracted the anticipated classy field with Menorah and Cue Card among the nine entries.

Alan King expects to be double handed in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March with both Karabak and Katchit being aimed at the race.

David Pipe is hoping the thaw sets in before Ascot’s big meeting on January 23.

NEWBURY will benefit from Ascot’s downfall by staging the Long Walk Hurdle as part of a bumper eight-race card on December 29.

Newbury will benefit from Ascot’s downfall by staging the Long Walk Hurdle as part of a bumper eight-race card on December 29.

NOEL Meade was delighted to see Pandorama silence the doubters by running out an impressive winner of the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday.

An informative renewal of the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on December 19 is in store, with a potential cast headed by Big Buck’s.

A Co. Armagh man who was caught with an Uzi submachine gun in Dundalk was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

A man from the North pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today to having an Israeli made submachine gun in Dundalk last year.

Nicky Henderson will be forced to make an about-turn with plans for Duc De Regniere, who provided the trainer with part of an extraordinary 404-1 four-timer at Newbury.

EOIN Griffin realises the stiff task facing Kazal in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Kazal could step back up to three miles for the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot next month following his run at Navan.

Special Envoy will bid to secure a richly-deserved big-race prize in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle on December 22.

Nicky Richards has all but ruled Turpin Green out of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

A GARDA who had been following a car which crashed, killing two young people in Dundalk, Co Louth, has told an inquest that he had stopped the pursuit just before the collision and denied he had been waiting “ready to pounce” on the vehicle.

Henry Daly will wait as long as possible for the ground to dry up before deciding whether Mighty Man gets the go-ahead for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Blazing Bailey may have derailed the Black Jack Ketchum bandwagon, but Jonjo O’Neill fought back from that shock reverse as Exotic Dancer burst into the totesport Gold Cup picture with a runaway success in the Letheby And Christopher Chase at Cheltenham.

BLACK JACK KETCHUM and Inglis Drever are set for round one in what could prove a fascinating rivalry in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Mighty Man, third is last season’s World Hurdle, is poised to take his chance in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Supporters of the Rossport Five are to make the final leg of their 300km walk to Dublin today.

My Way de Solzen appears increasingly likely to take his chance in next week’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle after further rain gladdened the spirits of trainer Alan King today.

Francois Doumen has revealed former champion stayer Baracouda could be joined by stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on March 16.

KAUTO STAR, 7-2 favourite with the sponsors for the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham, has been ruled out of the race by trainer Paul Nicholls.

Inglis Drever left a huge crowd at Newbury in no doubt he is the best staying hurdler around as he confirmed his Cheltenham superiority over Baracouda in the Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle.

Live 8 organisers were tonight making the final preparations for the biggest music event the world has yet seen.

Travis, Snow Patrol and Dido will be among those heading the line-up at a massive anti-poverty concert in Scotland next month, it was revealed today.