With the Cheltenham Festival moving tantalisingly into view the fare in Britain this afternoon is understandably less than stellar.

Grand National-winning jockey Jason Maguire has announced his retirement from the saddle.

Colm’s Dream gave trainer Karl Thornton the biggest success of his training career when landing the €50,000 TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase, feature of yesterday’s card, om drying ground, at Leopardstown.

Although plenty of punters who got their fingers burnt on Blazer in last weekend’s Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury, it is far too soon to write off the beaten favourite.

Mouse Morris believes both Rule The World and Folsom Blue are capable of making their presence felt in a fiercely-competitive renewal of the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park today.

Phillip Makin was the star of the show on the first day of the Ayr Gold Cup meeting yesterday with a 78-1 treble.

SOLOW (Queen Anne Stakes, Tuesday)

Jason Maguire will today undergo an operation in a bid to save his career.

Star Of Seville put herself in the frame for a tilt at the Investec Oaks after making a winning reappearance in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes at Newbury.

Vautour was most impressive in the 2014 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and, despite his blip at Leopardstown in December, remains really exciting. The quicker conditions should prompt improvement, and recent reports are positive.

Vautour can get punters off to a flying start by taking the opening JLT Novices’ Chase for the in-form team of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

Alberta will be strongly-fancied to land today’s Downpatrick bumper, the Posh Nosh Flat Race, for Gordon Elliott and Nina Carberry.

Nicky Henderson is optimistic about the chances of Sprinter Sacre regaining the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Sandy Thomson admits stable star Seeyouatmidnight has plenty on his plate as he bids for back-to-back victories in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock today. 

Jonjo O’Neill was delighted to see Holywell get his career back on track and earn himself a shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a bloodless success under Tony McCoy at Kelso.

Leeks are truly a superstar in your winter garden, says Kitty Scully.

There will be no jumps racing in Britain for the second day running after Market Rasen and Sedgefield both fell victim to the current cold snap.

Connections of Open Eagle remain upbeat after the runaway November Handicap winner suffered an odds-on reverse on his hurdling debut at Punchestown on Sunday.

Benefit In Kind can gain deliverance from a late fall at Catterick when he takes aim at a decent prize at Musselburgh today.

Enda Bolger believes Un De Sceaux would not be out of place in the Queen Mother Champion Chase after he slammed his star novice chaser Gilgamboa at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Jezki remains on course for another clash with great rival Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle back at Leopardstown on January 25.

Next month’s Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown is a likely next port of call for Hidden Cyclone following another admirable effort at Leopardstown over the festive period.

Donald McCain has taken the tough decision to retire his 2011 Champion Hurdle runner-up Peddlers Cross.

Check out today's horse racing tips from courses around Ireland and the UK.

Broughton will try to put his Flat speed to good use as he lines up in JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30) at Cheltenham.

My Tent Or Yours is likely to go down the racecourse gallop route in his preparation for the Stan James Champion Hurdle after trainer Nicky Henderson ruled out a trip to Wincanton.

Dan Skelton’s arrival to the training ranks has been little less than astonishing as Willow’s Saviour brought about his 15th and considerably most important winner in The Ladbroke at Ascot.

On a weekend when the Aidan O’Brien-trained Australia vaulted to favouritism for the 2014 Investec Derby, another Ballydoyle juvenile Giovanni Boldini created a favourable impression when making a successful debut in the www.dundalkstadium.com 2-Y-0 Race at Dundalk yesterday.

Waterville’s David Higgins was left ruing a bizarre mistake in a British Open Local Final qualifier at the North Berwick club after missing out in a play-off as he was carrying 15 clubs.

Trainer Ferdy Murphy is keeping his fingers crossed for a dry spell of weather as he prepares Divers for a return to the scene of his greatest triumph.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead will step up Sizing Europe’s Cheltenham Festival preparations when he runs the 11-year-old in the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

Aryal ran a race full of promise on his debut at Lingfield at the start of the month and normal improvement should make him difficult to beat in the BetVictor Cheltenham Festival Antepost Pioneers Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Kempton today.

Musselburgh have been forced to call an inspection for 8am tomorrow ahead of Friday's meeting.

Today's meeting at Lingfield and Sunday’s meeting at Musselburgh are set to go ahead as scheduled.

This afternoon’s meeting at Musselburgh must pass a second inspection at 10.30am.

Musselburgh’s meeting tomorrow is subject to an 8am precautionary inspection on raceday morning.

Check out our tips from today’s horse races from around Ireland and the UK.

Selected tips from courses in the UK and Ireland.

Zuider Zee has been declared a non-runner for the StanJames.com Chester Cup on Wednesday.