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.

Long Run gained his first win since the 2012 King George VI Chase when landing the odds in the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase at Kelso yesterday.

Jockey Barry Geraghty believes the state of the going on Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup day will have a big bearing on whether Bobs Worth can retain his crown on March 14.

Hurricane Fly, Jezki and Our Conor, the respective first three home in the Ryanair Hurdle over Christmas, are among seven entries for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle back at Leopardstown on January 26.

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

Willie Mullins filled the first three places in the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase in Limerick yesterday as 2/5 favourite Felix Yonger was turned over by stable-companion The Paparrazi Kid, with Balnaslow in third place.

Colin Tizzard believes Kempton will suit Cue Card down to the ground when his stable star attempts to justify favouritism in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Sizing Europe and First Lieutenant are among a classy entry of nine for the JNwine.com Champion chase at Down Royal on Saturday.

Willie Mullins topped his own record as two Grade One victories on the final day helped him take his Punchestown Festival tally to 13 winners for the week.

Willie Mullins feels testing conditions could give Back In Focus the edge over stable companion Boston Bob in tomorrow's Growise Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Mikael D’Haguenet gets the nap to land a fascinating Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

Bright New Dawn justified favouritism in the Grade 2 boylesports.com Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday, but the race was marred by the fatal fall of Venture Capital.

Danny Mullins has expressed his delight after being named retained jockey for emerging owner Barry Connell.

It will be a major surprise should Hurricane Fly fail to cement his place near the top of the Champion Hurdle market in the BHP Insurance-sponsored Irish equivalent at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Boston Bob could put his RSA Chase credentials on the line in the Boylesports.com Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

This is going to be a particularly quiet weekend for me. I’m suspended today and have only one ride at Navan tomorrow, Willie Mullins’ Suntiep in a two miles and seven maiden hurdle.

Whoever had the foresight to name Rule The World must, at least secretly, be congratulating themselves.

Golantilla, who made a huge impression when taking a bumper at Cork last Saturday, has been bought by Barry Connell for €375,000.

The highly-regarded Rule The World coasted to an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle in Naas yesterday as 1/4 favourite Champagne Fever flopped badly, trailing in a distant third before being found to have “a respiratory tract infection”.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh suffered a rare reversal in the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle this afternoon as the odds-on favourite Upazo was run out of it close home by Jennies Jewel (6-1).

Navan last Sunday was most educational, with the performances of Don Cossack and Boston Bob particularly significant.

Mount Benbulben got his fencing career back on track with a smooth success in the Nicky Connors – Lifetime In Racing Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse.

A mistake at the final obstacle cost Mikael D’Haguenet a first victory over fences in the Punchestown Gift Vouchers Beginners Chase.

Aidan O’Brien’s ability to defy logic never ceases to amaze.

Today's tips from Tipperary

Classy Mount Benbulben should prove the star of today’s action in Tipperary, if the track’s chase course passes a 7.30am inspection.

Stocktons Wing will be expected to build on his promising hurdling debut run in Listowel in today’s opener at Punchestown, the Go Racing In Kildare 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle, if the meeting survives an 8am inspection.

Trainer Willie Mullins agonised long and hard over which race to send Boston Bob this week and came down on the side of today’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

THERE are two noticeable powerhouses dominating Irish racing this season - Willie Mullins and Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.

Jessies Dream remains on course to make his eagerly-anticipated seasonal debut in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

IPSOS Du Berlais can land the nap in the Noel Farrelly Memorial Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon, should the meeting survive a precautionary 8am inspection due to the threat of frost.

GORDON Elliott has warned punters Champion Bumper ante-post favourite Don Cossack is “very doubtful” to make the journey to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Quel Esprit is set for a step up in class after a facile success in the Beamish Stout Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles.

THE feature at Sandown this afternoon is the Tolworth Hurdle and I ride Prospect Wells in what is a tricky little contest, even if there are only five runners.

HE rapidly improving Dedigout can land the nap in the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow.

THOSE of us who had pencilled in Mount Benbulben as a possible Cheltenham festival winner weren’t half left gasping for breath after he was beaten out of the gate by Boston Bob in a Grade 1 hurdle at Navan last Sunday.

GORDON ELLIOTT is to have Mount Benbulben fully checked over after his defeat by Boston Bob in the Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

BOSTON Bob and Zaidpour provided Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh with a big-race double at Navan yesterday, where the three scheduled chases were belatedly cancelled due to patches of frozen ground.

Boston Bob looked a future star in the making when running out a most impressive winner of the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh this afternoon.

Zaidpour had no trouble landing the odds in the Tara Hurdle at Navan this afternoon.

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.

WE are just undergoing a little bit of a lull in the yard at the moment and didn’t have a great week, but there have only been seven runners between last Saturday and last night.

ARE Ya Right Chief gets the nap to make a winning debut over jumps in the Santa’s Little Helper Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon.

YOU would have to love what Mount Benbulben did in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Navan last Sunday.