Ptit Zig remains on course for the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham despite sustaining a minor injury in a spill at Ascot last Saturday. 

Although her stable star has lost to old foe Hurricane Fly three times this season, Jessica Harrington maintains that it is the Closutton legend’s stablemate, Faugheen that represents the biggest threat to Jezki retaining his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham next month.

Hurricane Fly and Jezki face off for the sixth time at Leopardstown today in a fascinating clash for the Ryanair Hurdle.

Katie T appears unlikely to be pitched against the big guns in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on November 16.

A tilt at the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 is “looking likely” for Unioniste.

Tom Cooper believes Forpadydeplasterer could be the forgotten horse of Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Kingsbarns made an impressive debut when landing the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden at Navan yesterday.

Irish raiders were out of luck as Usual Suspects took Grade One honours in the Prix Alain Du Breil at Auteuil yesterday.

VERY little will change for us on Christmas Day given the chaotic week that is ahead. All the horses will be exercised as normal with racing coming up in Leopardstown, Down Royal and Limerick.

WILLIE MULLINS continued in superb form when completing a magnificent four-timer at Punchestown yesterday, highlighted by Thousand Stars’ all-the-way win in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle.

THE tempo of the national hunt season is really picking up for me this weekend as we say goodbye to a successful flat campaign.

MORNING SUPREME can continue the terrific currently run being enjoyed by Willie Mullins and Paul Townend by landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Cork this afternoon.

WILLIE MULLINS expects Hurricane Fly to handle the step back up in trip as he tackles tomorrow’s Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

VOLER LA VEDETTE made an impressive return to action when repeating last year’s win in the listed Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

LOOKING at the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown today the first thing which strikes me is from where is the pace going to come.

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace will be retired if he fails to sparkle on the gallops.

NOEL MEADE has decided against running Harchibald at Dundalk tomorrow night, but he could line up at the track next week instead.

TOM Mullins has not ruled out running Asian Maze in both the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.

Colm Murphy could not be happier with Brave Inca’s preparation for his defence of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow.

Jessica Harrington could be double-handed in the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 28.

CASHMANS have installed totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition and race specialist Beef Or Salmon as the 6-4 joint-favourites for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Champion Hurdle hero Brave Inca slogged through the Fairyhouse mud to win the rescheduled Ballymore Properties Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at the third time of asking.

Colm Murphy is confident champion hurdler Brave Inca will put up an improved performance in the Ballymore Properties Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

COLM MURPHY is weighing up the options for stable star Brave Inca after he made a satisfactory return at Punchestown on Sunday.

CHAMPION Hurdler Brave Inca makes his seasonal reappearance in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow where he will have to do without the services of Tony McCoy.

NOEL MEADE has decided to sidestep Sunday's Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown with Harchibald and Iktitaf will do duty for the stable instead.

IKTITAF and Harchibald, Noel Meade’s two Champion Hurdle aspirants, are firmly on course for their respective targets before Christmas.

Six-time Group One winner Danoli has died of a severe bout of colic at the age of 18.

HARCHIBALD is odds-on with Paddy Power but odds against with Cashmans to gain his revenge on some old rivals in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown today.

Harchibald is odds-on with Paddy Power to gain his revenge on some old rivals in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Harchibald has been the surprise package of the hurdling division this year and, despite a recent hiccup, trainer Noel Meade is full of hope that his gelding’s brilliant season can extend into the Cheltenham Festival.