Nicky Henderson was more than satisfied after Afsoun was made to pull out all the stops to make a winning start to his fencing career in the Commscope Solutions And Anixter Business Partners Novices’ Chase at Warwick today.

AL EILE features among 17 horses engaged in Saturday’s Scottish And Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle.

Al Eile features among 17 horses engaged in Saturday’s Scottish And Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle.

Sizing Europe and defending champion Sublimity are among 17 declarations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

Henry De Bromhead can be forgiven for thinking he is in the middle of a beautiful dream.

ALL is well in the Sublimity camp after last year’s Champion Hurdle hero warmed up for his repeat bid with a pleasing racecourse gallop at Leopardstown.

Nicky Henderson outlined his plans for a 21-horse assault on the Cheltenham Festival, spearheaded by a double attack on the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with Punjabi and Afsoun.

Lemon Silk was added to the reopened Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

DESSIE Hughes is in no hurry to decide whether Hardy Eustace will bid for a third Champion Hurdle triumph or take the longer option in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

A fascinating rematch between Kauto Star and Monet’s Garden is the undoubted highlight of what should prove an informative week of action.

Timmy Murphy steps in for the injured Tony McCoy as Straw Bear faces another potential match-race with Afsoun in the totescoop6 Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

Afsoun could be given a chance to redeem himself in the bonusprint.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock later this month.

AFSOUN can floor the Jonjo O’Neill duo of Black Jack Ketchum and Wichita Lineman in the Steel Plate And Sections Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Hardy Eustace will face 10 rivals in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Tony McCoy hopes Straw Bear can acquit himself well when he returns to action in Saturday’s Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Hardy Eustace landed his second successive Coral Ascot Hurdle with a typically gutsy display that strongly suggests Father Time has yet to master the dual Champion Hurdle winner.

Straw Bear will enjoy an extended break before returning to racing in the autumn after pulling up in the Champion Hurdle last week.

Sublimity and Philip Carberry landed odds of 16-1 in a thrilling renewal of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the opening day of the 2007 Cheltenham Festival.

Straw Bear appeared right back to his best when posting an authoritative victory in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton - but trainer Nick Gifford immediately played down his charge's Cheltenham Festival hopes.

Nicky Henderson’s Champion Hurdle contender Afsoun is likely to have his prep race for Cheltenham in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday week.

Afsoun will bid to make amends for falling last time out when he lines up in the bonusprint.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock on Saturday week.

WHAT makes a Gold Cup horse? Plenty of things, really, but stamina and high cruising speed are the basics.

Nicky Henderson welcomed the rain that has maintained cut in the ground at Cheltenham as he put the finishing touches on a 24-strong team for next week’s Festival.

Mister Hight, ante-post favourite alongside Afsoun for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, faces seven rivals in the Grade Two Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Afsoun will warm up for a tilt at the JCB Triumph Hurdle when tackling the Betfred Chatteris Fen Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon tomorrow.

Nicky Henderson has used the cantorspreadfair.com Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle to great effect in recent years and he stuck again when Restless D’Artaix gained a comfortable eight-length victory.