David Pipe has yet to make a final decision on where stable star Grands Crus will start off his season.

Paul Nicholls believes he is “nearly there” in his battle to get Kauto Star fit for Friday’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Andrew Lynch expects to be fit for the Cheltenham Festival – despite being stood down at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Binocular will bypass the BetVictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso tomorrow and instead head straight for next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Exciting grey Grands Crus is set to put his unbeaten record over fences to the test in the Betfair Don’t Settle For Less Novices’ Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Golan Way will be given a break for the remainder of the winter before being prepared for a spring campaign.

History-seeking Kauto Star heads a final field of 11 runners in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

NICKY HENDERSON already believes Punchestowns and Long Run are the best two chasers he has ever trained.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has confirmed the RSA Chase is the intended target for Long Run following his impressive display at Warwick on Saturday.

A good performance from Tazbar at Cheltenham on Saturday could set him up for a crack at the Feltham Novices’ Chase on St Stephen's Day.

Tranquil Sea has been given top weight of 11st 12lb in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

Nicky Henderson is set to return to his original tactics with The Market Man and allow the flamboyant chestnut to go from the front in Wednesday’s RSA Chase at Cheltenham.

Charlie Mann is keen to target the Irish Hennessy for Air Force One in what would be the gelding’s warm-up race for the totesport Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Strong Flow, winner of the 2003 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, could return to big-race action in the Betfred Gold Cup.

Promising chaser Darkness has sustained a tendon injury which will force him to miss the whole of the current campaign.

ANTE-POST punters suffered a pre-Christmas blow after learning that Yes Sir is to bypass a clash with the big boys in Kempton’s Stan James King George VI Chase.

Much like that frightful Wizzard chorus, racing fans are surely united in their wish it could be Christmas every day.

Royal and SunAlliance Chase favourite Darkness is set to go straight to Cheltenham without a prep run.

Paul Nicholls is looking forward to a “big run” from Strong Flow in tomorrow’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

PAUL NICHOLLS is still unsure whether his crack two-miler Azertyuiop will step up in distance for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Paul Nicholls' Strong Flow is set to miss the rest of the season after picking up an injury when winning at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.

Strong Flow looks likely to miss the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Boxing Day in favour of a tilt at the Feltham Novices’ Chase on the same card.

JAIR DU COCHET, the horse no money can buy, is about to step up a gear in his preparations for the traditional St Stephen’s Day highlight, the Pertemps King George VI Chase.