Nicky Henderson can still call on what he describes as a “proper horse” in the BetVictor Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown today as Captain Conan flies the flag in the absence of undisputed two-mile king Sprinter Sacre.

Old Roan Chase hero Conquisto could aim to continue his excellent start to the season in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead admits Sprinter Sacre’s participation at the Punchestown Festival could have a bearing on which race Sizing Europe contests.

Mouse Morris was elated after First Lieutenant provided him with a birthday winner in the Betfred Bowl on the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Benefficient, trained by Tony Martin and ridden by Bryan Cooper, won the Jewson Novices' Chase, the opening race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

Play: Arabella Boy, 4.00

FFOS LAS: 2.05 Oscara Dara; 2.40 Red Rocco

Trainer Henry de Bromhead will step up Sizing Europe’s Cheltenham Festival preparations when he runs the 11-year-old in the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

Sprinter Sacre’s facile success in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase proved the highlight of a four-timer for trainer Nicky Henderson at Sandown.

SANDOWN: 1.55 Captain Conan; 2.30 Starluck

The one certainty about the Tingle Creek at Sandown today is that it is going to be spectacular.

Always Waining made Aintree history when winning the John Smith’s Topham Chase for the third year in a row and in the process ended a barren spell for trainer Peter Bowen.

I will arrive at Cheltenham today confident there’s a strong possibility of getting among the winners, especially with Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and Quevega in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Tony Martin is still undecided whether his Grade One winner Benefficient will run in the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

I had no runners last weekend, or so far this month for that matter.

A total of 91 entries have been received for the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Fingal Bay is among a massive 118 entries for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, March 14.

Free set to make it three