Ascot Chase winner Captain Chris is likely to take his chance in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup next month and could also run at the Punchestown festival in April, according to trainer Philip Hobbs.

Long Run could tackle the £100,000 Kempton Park Chase at the Sunbury track on February 22 as a step towards a crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Colin Tizzard believes Kempton will suit Cue Card down to the ground when his stable star attempts to justify favouritism in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Last year’s winner Captain Chris will miss this afternoon’s Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot after being found to be lame.

What this year’s Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown confirms is trainers are now targeting it and making sure their best horses are specifically fresh for it.

Sprinter Sacre stood his ground among eight entries remaining in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday but Flemenstar has been ruled out after connections decided to give the eight-year-old a wind operation.

Nicky Henderson will be keeping a keen eye on the weather before committing stable star Sprinter Sacre to a run at the Punchestown Festival next week.

Bobs Worth gets the vote to land what looks a high-class Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup today.

Trainer Colin Tizzard has challenged Cue Card’s rivals to take him on from the front in today’s Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Willie Mullins believes Sir Des Champs’ love of Cheltenham will stand him in good stead when he runs in the Betfred Gold Cup next month.

First of all this morning let me reveal that I am definitely going to partner Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

Jezki, unbeaten over hurdles and favourite for the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, is, reportedly, to be bought by JP McManus.

Kauto Star has now been reduced to a ceremonial role in the William Hill King George VI Chase, but his first appearance at Kempton in retirement yesterday coincided with the most gripping finish since the era before the five-timer winner as his old foe Long Run claimed a dramatic second victory.

Long Run got up in the final strides to collar Captain Chris and regain his crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Robbie Hennessy feels putting thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup back to tomorrow from Wednesday will have no ill effects on Rubi Light.

Quito De La Roque is market leader to make up for lost time in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

The first four home from Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase are all entered in what promises to be a memorable renewal of the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on April 24.

Seven Barrows is the place to be right now if you’re a horse, and it’s not a bad place to be as a guest of Nicky Henderson’s either.

Kauto Star is only “50-50” to make the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after a fall when schooling last week, according to trainer Paul Nicholls.

Captain Chris is still not a definite runner at the Cheltenham Festival.

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

BIG BUCK’S treated Cheltenham racegoers to a preview of what will surely be a fourth victory in March’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle when winning for the 15th time in-a-row on Saturday.

PAUL NICHOLLS throws Al Ferof in at the deep end in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot today, but I think it is the right decision.

RUBI LIGHT, third behind dual winner Albertas Run and Kalahari King in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season, will skip the Gold Cup this year for another crack at the Ryanair after he finished second in the Lexus.

Dual winner Albertas Run heads the 38 entries for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 15.

The stage is set for Kauto Star and Long Run to clash again in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 16.

BOOKMAKERS are generally rather coy about admitting they have had a good day, or a good meeting, but this week a number accepted that Leopardstown at Christmas had been rather tasty for them.

Henrietta Knight favours the Ryanair Chase over the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup as Somersby’s Festival target.

Tony McCoy believes defending champion Long Run will be the one to beat in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

Barry Geraghty has been formally booked to partner Diamond Harry in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, where all eight confirmed entries have been declared to run.

KAUTO STAR and Long Run feature among just eight confirmations for the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Alan King’s Grade One-winning chaser Medermit could make his seasonal reappearance in the Betfred Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on November 1.

Noel Meade is confident Pandorama will be ready for action when the National Hunt season kicks into gear after recovering from an injury sustained in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

THE Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle, the second Grade 1 on the card at Punchestown last night, was billed as a match between First Lieutenant and So Young.

I THINK it’s fair to say I’m more hopeful than confident facing into the final day of Punchestown this afternoon.

RUBY WALSH pulled rank on his baby sister, Katie, at Punchestown last night when brilliant mare Quevega beat Mourad in the Grade 1 ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle.

AFTER the first two days of the National Hunt Festival had failed to throw up a winning favourite, punters could have been forgiven for holding bookies in the same regard as bankers.

CAPTAIN CHRIS is the nap choice to land the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown this evening.

I HAVE had it in my head for a long time that The Midnight Club could be an ideal Grand National candidate and am obviously very much looking forward to riding him at Aintree this afternoon.

PAUL Nolan is looking forward to stepping Noble Prince up in trip for the first time over fences in the Jewson Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

A NEW addition to the Festival, it attracts those novices that don’t possess the speed for the Arkle but similarly don’t have the stamina or will to tackle the RSA Chase.

AFTER winning the first six races on what was an historic day for Irish raiders, the irony came in yesterday’s Bumper — a race we once farmed — as Cheltenian chalked up the only score on the board for the home team.

Ruby Walsh wasted no time in putting his stamp on the race to be crowned top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival by riding a first day treble.

CAPTAIN CHRIS justified trainer Philip Hobbs’ last-minute decision to run in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham by seeing off the free-going Finian’s Rainbow after the final fence.