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Haydock meeting lost to frozen ground.

This afternoon's 3.00 pm inspection at Haydock Park confirmed the circuit was still forzen, and consequently, the meeting scheduled for tomorrow - Wednesday 30 December - has been cancelled.

Battling Big Bucks shows his mettle.

With Ruby Walsh hard at work as the field turned into the home straight for the final time in today's re-scheduled Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury, many may have thought Big Bucks had found today's testing ground too much, but like the kind of battler he is, he rallied under pressure, and forced his way into the lead prior to the last flight, and then drove on gamely up the run-in to score by three and a half lengths from Karabak, with Diamond Harry back in third.

Friend provides Nicholls with top class across the card double.

This afternoon's re-scheduled Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown provided trainer Paul Nicholls with an across the card top class double as What A Friend collected for the Ditcheat maestro.

For much of the 3 mile contest, Notra Pere and Joncol cut out the running, and as the latter approached the last obstacle he looked a potential winner, but Sam Thomas had been biding his time on What A Friend, and he brought the relatively inexperienced chaser to take it up after the last, before having to motivate his mount to hold off a late challenge from fellow British raider Money Trix, with What A Friend scoring by half a length as he passed the post.

The result paid a huge compliment to Denman, who had given What A Friend a huge amount of weight and a beating in the Hennessy Gold Cup, and it suggests Kauto Star may not have it all his own way in the 2010 running of the Cheltenham Gold cup.

Positive tactics secure another Solwit success.

Given a much more positive ride in today's December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown, the Charles Byrne trained Solwit put his disappointing run in the recent tactical Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle well behind him.

Always in control, Solwit dominated, and by securing a two length victory from Sublimity, he denied the runner up back to back victories in the top class hurdle.

If the connections of Solwit employ today's forcing tactics in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, with his proven stamina over longer trips, it could make him hard to beat when climbing the Cheltenham hill in March.

Reve de Sivola lands Challow Hurdle.

Purchased to be a chaser, Reve de Sivola is turning into a very successful hurdler, and the Ian williams trained gelding gave the yard its second Grade 1 success in two days when he snatched victory close home in this afternoon's Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Finian's Rainbow had a narrow lead approaching the last flight, but he knocked it flat and lost his momentum, and for a moment it looked as if Restless Harry would be the main beneficiary, but Daryl Jacob brought Reve de Sivola with a brilliantly timed run to secure the spoils by half a length.

Voler la Vedeete puts in workmanlike performance.

Having beaten Go Native by 13 lenghts on her last outing, the Colm Murphy trained Voler la Vedette was a lot more workmanlike when landing today's Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown by two lengths.

After the race, jockey Paul Townend reported the mare had been 'doing too much' during the race, and he thought she would benefit from a return to two miles.

Nicholls rules out Triumph for Sang Bleu.

After his defeat in yesterday's Future Champions Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, Paul Nicholls has ruled out french import Sang Bleu from the 2010 JCB Triumph Hurdle.