What A Friend suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of his stable companion Noland in the Aon Chase at Newbury today.

NOLAND may be retired if he puts in a second successive poor performance in the Aon Chase at Newbury today.

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

LEOPARDSTOWN general manager Tom Burke reports conditions to be improving ahead of their rearranged fixture this Saturday.

THE way results have unfolded at Cheltenham this week, it won’t be any great surprise should Kauto Star bite the dust in today’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

AIR Force One should deny last year’s winner One Cool Cookie in the Guinness Chase, feature of the St. Patrick’s Day action at Down Royal.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy believes he learnt plenty from riding Denman in the Aon Chase at Newbury despite the pair failing to complete the course.

PAUL NICHOLLS has warned Denman should not be written off for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup despite his lacklustre display in the Aon Chase earlier this month.

Paul Nicholls has warned Denman should not be written off for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup despite his lacklustre display in the Aon Chase earlier this month.

DENMAN was universally eased by the bookmakers for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after unshipping champion jockey Tony McCoy in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Denman was universally eased by the bookmakers for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after unshipping champion jockey Tony McCoy in the Aon Chase at Newbury.

NEWBURY this afternoon is all about two horses, Master Minded and Denman.

I have decided to ride Kauto Star, in preference to Denman, in next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

NOW there is no doubt. Kauto Star is a racing legend.

David Thorpe, the chairman of the Racecourse Association in the UK, believes sponsorship for this year could be down 40% as the recession filters through and impacts on the racing industry.

A strong British challenge is still expected for the rearranged Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Tony McCoy’s chances of securing his 3,000th jumps winner at Bangor today were scuppered after Jonjo O’Neill withdrew all of his horses at the track.

Kempton will be the stage for the eagerly-awaited reappearance of Denman in the rescheduled Aon Chase, to be known as the Levy Board Chase tomorrow.

Newbury’s meeting on Saturday, set to feature the return to action of Gold Cup winner Denman, has been abandoned.

Exotic Dancer is among eight possibles for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Joint-owner Paul Barber insists Denman has matured into a better horse this season.

Reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman is among 19 entries for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 8.

A run in the John Smith’s Grand National seems unlikely for Denman unless something goes wrong in his pursuit of back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups.

CONNECTIONS of Albertas Run are eyeing a tilt at the Letheby & Christopher Chase following the eight-year-old’s fine second in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last month.

Former top novice chaser Foreman is to make his debut for Jonjo O’Neill in the Blue Square Mobile Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Denman has been given a surprise entry at Wincanton on St Stephen's Day.

Star De Mohaison takes the next step on the road to a possible tilt at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup when he has his first race over fences for two years on Friday.

Kauto Star will bid to regain his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown back from stablemate Denman as a fresh horse with trainer Paul Nicholls planning to send him straight to the Festival after a run over Christmas.

Celestial Gold has been left as the highest-rated horse of the 20 that remain engaged in Kempton’s Racing Post Chase at the five-day stage.

SAM THOMAS believes the fact that jockey arrangements have already been finalised for Denman and Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a bonus.

Denman has been given a clean bill of health following his romp in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Denman readied himself for his date with destiny at Cheltenham next month with a near-faultless display under Sam Thomas in the Aon Chase at Newbury.

Denman enjoyed an ideal preparation for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup when taking the Aon Chase at Newbury with the minimum of fuss.

Turpin Green looks set to take on Denman in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday as Nicky Richards plots a return path to the Cheltenham Festival.

RUBY WALSH has confirmed he will ride Kauto Star in next month’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

DENMAN is likely to face a small field in his final run before the Cheltenham Gold Cup as only 10 entries were received for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Denman is likely to face a small field in his final run before the Cheltenham Gold Cup as only 10 entries were received for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Star De Mohaison is firmly on course to return to fences after pleasing connections on his comeback outing over hurdles at Cheltenham.

Ferdy Murphy has pinpointed the Aon Chase on February 9 as the race in which he hopes to see Aces Four back on the track.

DENMAN is reported by trainer Paul Nicholls to be in far better shape then last year as he heads back to Cheltenham to avenge his short-priced Festival defeat.

Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star was made to pull out all the stops as L’Ami pushed him right to the line in a dramatic Aon Chase at Newbury.

Billyvoddan could be set for a busy few weeks as connections consider running him in both Saturday’s Aon Chase and the Racing Post Chase a fortnight later.

Cheltenham Festival winner King Harald is set to return to the track this weekend after an absence of over 12 months.

Bookmakers can see little danger to Kauto Star in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.