NEWS DIGEST:Connections of Lethal Weapon have yet to make a firm decision on whether the Grade One winner will head for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Christy Roche's four-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and marked himself down as a leading Irish juvenile when denying Tharawaat in the Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

The JP McManus-owned chestnut is currently enjoying a short break, with Roche in no rush to make future plans.

Roche said: "He ran a great race at Leopardstown in what was a decent contest. Whether it is Triumph Hurdle form we'll have to see, but that would be the way we are looking at this stage.

"It's great to have won a Grade One with him already and I would say it is unlikely he will have a run before Cheltenham if that's the way we go with him.

"When he gets back from his break, the decision will be made whether he goes for the Triumph or whether he goes elsewhere.

"He's a lovely, genuine horse who loves his jumping and he has answered our every call.

"You can't ask any more than what he has done so far and we will just have to see how far he can go."

• GORDON ELLIOTT is giving Saturday's totesport.com Classic Chase at Warwick serious consideration for Hoopy.

The seven-year-old was something of a controversial winner at Cheltenham in November when his jockey Jason McKeown took the whip from another jockey before jumping the third from home.

He ran a fine third in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and Elliott believes he would benefit from Saturday's step up to the three miles and five furlongs.

"We will see what the weather is like later in the week but he came out of the Leopardstown race and it is looking like he might take his chance," said Elliott.

"He stayed on very well last time and I would say with another furlong he wouldn't have been far away as he was flying there at the finish.

"All he does is stay and if he doesn't run this weekend, he could go to Doncaster at the end of the month.

"We'll have a chat with the owners and make a decision."

Hoopy is one of 25 entries for the Grade Three contest, with Philip Hobbs' 12-year-old Monkerhostin set to head the weights.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could run Dear Villez, while other interesting possibles include Alexanderthegreat, Kandjar D'Allier and Malko De Beaumont.

• RAMBLING MINSTER is to be aimed at the Eider Chase following his victory at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. The 11-year-old made full use of his stamina and jumping qualities to outstay Alexanderthegreat over an extended three and a quarter miles.

Although he could return to Cheltenham for the William Hill Trophy at the Festival in March, the totesport Eider over four miles and one furlong at Newcastle on February 21st remains his next major objective.

"I want to go for the Eider and get one more run into him before then, but as yet I'm not sure where." said trainer Keith Reveley.

"The Eider is late February and it would be ideal if I could get one more before then but we'll see."

Reveley has ruled out the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on January 24th, in which he was sixth last year, but there is a possible race at the Town Moor track the following Saturday.

"The three miles at Doncaster would be too fast for him so he won't go for that," added the Saltburn-based handler.

"There is a four-miler there a week later but it's a 0-140 and I have to hope the handicapper doesn't put him up by more than 5lb.

"That race would be suitable, the timing would be right - but if he goes up by more than 5lb then he wouldn't be qualified.

"As for Cheltenham, he always runs well there and it would be nice to have a runner at the Festival."

• BRITAIN'S ICY blast proved too much for Wolverhampton yesterday. Officials at the Dunstall Park venue were forced to abandon their fixture following a second inspection at 10.30am after a covering of snow overnight.

Prospects for a resumption of jump racing in the next few days are bleak. The Arctic conditions had already forced yesterday's two jumps meetings at Ludlow and Taunton to be called off on Sunday and today's Leicester card has followed suit. Today's other National Hunt fixture is at Sedgefield where officials are hopeful despite calling an early precautionary inspection. All-weather racing is planned for Kempton and Southwell while a Wolverhampton meeting is scheduled tomorrow afternoon along with Kempton. The jumps programmes tomorrow are also under threat with inspections called this morning at both Musselburgh and Fontwell.