For 51 weekends of the year Sevenhouses is just a crossroads on the R697 a few miles south of Kilkenny; on the second weekend of January however, every year, it becomes a Mecca for the tight-knit coursing community, last-chance-saloon to qualify for the great annual National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel a few weeks later.

If you haven’t yet seen the Red Mills “kennel visit” to Graham Holland, it’s time to find your way to the IGB site for the link or go directly to YouTube.

The Willie Mullins-trained Mozoltov booked his ticket to Cheltenham when getting the better of favourite Don Cossack in a tremendous tussle for the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

Sizing Europe duly landed the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown yesterday, but, like Arvika Ligeonniere the previous day, was less than impressive.

CASH And Go could take in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown next month ahead of a run at the Cheltenham Festival.

RUBI LIGHT, third behind dual winner Albertas Run and Kalahari King in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season, will skip the Gold Cup this year for another crack at the Ryanair after he finished second in the Lexus.

COLM Murphy completed a fine Grade 2 double with Voler La Vedette and Quito De La Roque at Navan yesterday.

It’s funny how things have worked out with the delay of a week’s racing due to the heavy rain.

TRAINER Philip Fenton has revealed he might give Dunguib an entry in the Coral Cup as an alternative to the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Luska Lad will not run in Friday’s rearranged Galmoy Hurdle and will also skip Cheltenham, according to his trainer John Hanlon.

GIMLI’S ROCK proved a facile winner of the Grade 2 WKD Core Hurdle at Down Royal yesterday, highlight of a spectacular treble for trainer Jessica Harrington, also successful with the Robert Power-ridden pair Bostons Angel and Saville Row.

RIGHTLY or wrongly, National Hunt jockeys these days are rated by the number of winners they ride at the Cheltenham Festival.

KICKING KING pleased trainer Tom Taaffe in a workout yesterday morning prior to his run in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on Saturday.

MICHAEL Hourigan will leave it late before deciding whether to run Mossbank in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

ANTE-POST punters have suffered a blow yesterday when trainer Martin Brassil revealed Numbersixvalverde had not been entered for the John Smith’s Grand National after failing to make sufficient progress from injury.

Michael Hourigan will leave it late before deciding whether to run Mossbank in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Following a rollercoaster ride of a week in which Gold Cup-bound pair Kauto Star and Denman both did the business, the weekend action took something of a back seat.

JOHN MURPHY has moved to reassure punters reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill’s entry in the Champion Hurdle is just a precaution.

John Murphy has moved to reassure punters reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill’s entry in the Champion Hurdle is just a precaution.

DARYL JACOB insists he feels under no extra pressure ahead of The Listener’s engagement in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at the weekend.

Jessica Harrington has confirmed Macs Joy is on target for a pre-Cheltenham clash with Hardy Eustace and Harchibald in the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran at February 17.

Harchibald will not run against Detroit City and Straw Bear in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

THE AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday, won in some style by the great Hardy Eustace, was surely the best contest ever run over flights in this country!

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

Brave Inca and Tony McCoy kept Macs Joy at bay to win a thrilling Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

IT seems unlikely that dual Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace will run in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park tomorrow, writes Pat Keane.

Tom Mullins hopes to give his Cheltenham Festival contender Asian Maze a prep run at Gowran Park or Navan later this month.

HARDY EUSTACE’S blood was found to be wrong following his poor display in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Tom Mullins has ruled Ladbrokes World Hurdle candidate Asian Maze out of any possible engagements over the next few days and is now looking to give her a prep race next month.

GOLDEN CROSS will seek to enhance his growing reputation in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Tom Mullins has ruled Ladbrokes World Hurdle candidate Asian Maze out of any possible engagements over the next few days and is now looking to give her a prep race next month.

TOLPUDDLE, given a speculative entry for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, made a winning debut over flights in the Millstreet Maiden Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Solerina notched up her 22nd career success when seeing off four rivals in the Cedar Building Hurdle at Naas.

Hardy Eustace is the new 3-1 favourite with totesport for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

RATHGAR BEAU is likely to take his chance against Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in the Queen Mother two mile Champion 'Chase at Cheltenham following a smooth success in the MacLochlainn Road Markings Limited Kinloch Brae 'Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Willie Mullins has announced his intention to appeal against today’s disqualification of 2002 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Be My Royal.

Irish-trained hurdler Emotional Moment, who just missed the line-up when a leading fancy for the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury last weekend, will seek compensation in the McCabe Builders Limited Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.