In the money at recent Cheltenham festivals, former classy hurdlers Kazal and Psycho return to action at Clonmel this afternoon when tackling the larger obstacles again in the modest Comeragh Beginners Chase.

JP McMANUS received the perfect 59th birthday present with news that Binocular had schooled in impressive style yesterday, but trainer Nicky Henderson says that a decision about running in Tuesday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle will not be taken until the horse has worked tomorrow.

Slievecorragh gave trainer Francis Flood his 10th winner of the season in the Jigginstown Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

Noel Meade's stable star Go Native continues to dominate the ante-post market on the Champion Hurdle, which will be staged for the last time next Tuesday under the banner of the Smurfit Kappa organisation.

WATERFORD trainer Henry de Bromhead, who is enjoying his best season by some margin, is hoping it will be third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival for Sizing Europe, one of the leading lights in next week's Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

Naas stage an additional meeting this afternoon to compensate owners and trainers for a couple of recent postponements due to snowfalls at the Kildare venue.

Paul Carberry has stepped in for the ride on Old McDonald in next week's Weatherbys Champion Bumper after Kieren Fallon decided against a trip to the Cheltenham Festival.

Thurles have cancelled the three steeplechase races from their final jumps meeting of the season on March 25 because of the state of the track.

For jump trainers, this is the longest week of the year. There are now seven days to go until the start of the Cheltenham festival, seven long days for something to go wrong.

DAVY Russell's profile has changed beyond recognition in the past two years. He is outwardly still the same: courteous, engaging, and as honest about his shortcomings as when he returned to Ireland after a chastening stint with Ferdy Murphy in 2004.

Restless Harry is reported to be in tip-top shape by trainer Robin Dickin ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

Bergo has the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan as a long-term target after maintaining his unbeaten record at Ffos Las yesterday.

Weird Al will complete his preparations for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham with a final piece of work on Wednesday.

WEXFORD trainer Colm Murphy, who is pinning his current Cheltenham hopes on just Big Zeb and Voler La Vedette, has resisted the temptation to add the enigmatic Zaarito to his Cotswolds raiding party.

Sublimity has been ruled out of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle due to a leg injury.

EIGHT days left on the countdown to Cheltenham and the jump racing community is tiptoeing on eggshells.

Tom Cooper beamed as he strode into the residents' bar of the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork on Monday night. There was a spring in this man's step as he made for a corner populated by fellow Cheltenham Preview Night panel members -- and why wouldn't there be?

W ILLIE MULLINS has confirmed to the Sunday Independent that Secant Star is on course for the Triumph Hurdle, whatever about an alarming drift in his price last week.

'HE is probably, after 300 years of bloodstock breeding, the ultimate development of the thoroughbred horse." This is how John Oxx contextualised Sea The Stars, champion of his generation and -- comparatively by any measure -- many generations before him.

When Sausalito Bay finally ended Noel Meade's 22-year wait for a first Cheltenham Festival winner, the trainer got down on his knees and kissed the blessed turf in the winner's enclosure. "I can die a happy man now," he said.

I T started with Hurricane Fly and reached a crescendo with Dunguib. It wasn't what they had achieved but the mere suggestion of how far they could go. It was how they travelled through their races, the way they toyed with their opponents; the beautiful, unmistakable stamp of class. Those with longer memories were instantly transported back to a sweet, magical time and a rare gem called Golden Cygnet.

The publication of the Grand National weights often coincides with a spate of horses suddenly showing their true mettle over fences. A fair few engaged in the Aintree spectacular turn out at Doncaster in the Grimthorpe Chase (3.25), for which Comply Or Die, the 2008 Grand National winner and runner-up last year, heads the weights.

These are cash-strapped times in England, so there's every reason to question whether the seven-figure sum spent on the Racing For Change (RFC) initiative is money well spent across the Irish Sea.

The novice chase at Naas tomorrow will make for compulsive viewing, with the hugely frustrating Zaarito bidding to erase the memory of two bad falls.

As with so many facets of his outstanding career, Martin Pipe called his retirement with perfect timing. The man who dominated jumps racing made way for his son, David, just as Paul Nicholls was assembling the strongest string seen since the days of Tom Dreaper.