Racing: Fota Island and Central House travel from Ireland for today's William Hill Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, where the defending champion, and Britain's highest-rated horse, Kauto Star, is set to be a heavy odds-on favourite.

Ruby Walsh's mount returns to two miles after his ultra-impressive win at three in the Betfair Chase, and he will be backed up by last year's Arkle winner, Voy Por Ustedes, who is making his seasonal debut.

Roger Loughran will be reunited with Central House, having been injured for his last start at Navan in the Fortria Chase behind Nickname.

Tony McCoy will again be on board last year's Champion Chase runner-up Fota Island, and will also team up with Mouse Morris's other runner at Sandown, Falkenauge, in the opening novice handicap hurdle.

The same JP McManus colours could also be on the mark in the opening day feature of the winter festival at Fairyhouse this afternoon, the Porterstown Handicap Chase, where Penny Hall can spark another big local success for the Carberry family.

Penny Hall put in a dourly impressive performance to land the Cork National from Camptect, and his proven stamina makes a convincing argument for the Carberry horse defying a 9lb penalty.

It's the opening Juvenile Hurdle that provides the Graded action, however, and there was enough in the impressive jumping debut of Celtic Warrior at Thurles to suggest Denis O'Regan's mount will be a significant threat.

Whizbang returns from a two-year absence in the Beginners Chase, and he could be something of a dark horse in a race where Back To Bid is likely to appreciate the testing conditions on the back of his run behind Letterman at Thurles.

Preference, though, is for Merdeka, who beat Back To Bid over hurdles last winter and who only got to the third on his chasing debut behind Patsy Hall at Down Royal.