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.

Grands Crus’ part-owner Roger Stanley maintains no hasty decisions will be taken over whether the grey participates in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

Last season’s Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby is among field of six possibles for the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday following the confirmation stage.

I have just five rides over the next two days, but this could still be a great weekend. What it really comes down to is whether I can win the Betfair Chase at Haydock today aboard Silviniaco Conti.

Another of John Hales’ army of greys handed Paul Nicholls the last of jumping racing’s major prizes to have eluded him as Al Ferof took the starring role in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

David Pipe has reaffirmed his belief Grands Crus is a well handicapped horse ahead of his eagerly anticipated return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Owner Andy Stewart believes Big Buck’s is as enthusiastic as ever as he goes for an amazing 17th win on the spin in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree tomorrow.

Nicky Henderson is now by far and away the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history after an incredible four-timer took him four clear of Fulke Walwyn’s record of 40.

Ladbrokes World Hurdle preview

Nicky Henderson’s Bobs Worth stayed on best up the famous Cheltenham hill to claim the RSA Chase in the hands of Barry Geraghty.

Owner Clive Smith praised Paul Nicholls and his team for their efforts in getting Kauto Star back on track to bid for a third success in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Nicky Henderson is hoping Sprinter Sacre can succeed where stablemate Finian’s Rainbow failed in today's Racing Post Arkle Chase.

David Pipe continues to give very little away about the likely Cheltenham Festival target for the dashing grey Grands Crus.

Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth finished second and third respectively behind Grands Crus in the Grade 1 Feltham Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day and the pair meet again in this afternoon's Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot (1.50), hoping to put the final touches on their Cheltenham Festival preparations.

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.

UNBEATEN novice chaser Grands Crus will miss tomorrow’s Argento Chase at Cheltenham after connections decided to sidestep the Grade Two heat.

BIG BUCK’S appears to face a straightforward task as he goes in search of a 15th straight victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

NEWBURY provides a fitting end to a good year of racing when it hosts the Betfred Goals Galore Novices’ Chase (2.05) this afternoon and although there are only five runners going to post, it is an absolute cracker.

CHAMPION Court will try to make it third-time lucky at Cheltenham this season as he lines up in tomorrow’s Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices’ Chase.

DAVID PIPE is not ruling out a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup bid with Grands Crus after the infinitely promising grey made it three wins from as many starts over fences in the Williamhill.com Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

DAVID PIPE’S grey Grands Crus adds further star quality to an already glittering St Stephen’s Day card at Kempton as he takes his next step up the ladder in the williamhill.com Feltham Novices’ Chase.

ON Monday morning, nice and early, I’ll head to Dublin airport for a 7.45am flight to Heathrow.

Grands Crus heads a stellar cast of nine entries for the williamhill.com Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

Connections of Grands Crus have not ruled out giving consideration to the Cheltenham Gold Cup for their talented novice chaser.

Grands Crus could strut his stuff next in the Feltham Chase at Kempton on December 26 after taking his 100% record over fences to two at Newbury on Thursday.

TWO lengths was the winning distance, but connections of Grands Crus were in no doubt David Pipe’s grey had made a far greater margin of progress in the GPG Novices’ Chase at Newbury yesterday.

GRANDS CRUS attempts to build on his impressive fencing debut when he takes on just three rivals in the GPG Novices’ Chase at Newbury today.

WORKFORCE, brilliant winner of last year’s Investec Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has been retired to stud.

Grands Crus could take on Long Run and Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

DAVID Pipe’s great grey hope Grands Crus gave every impression he could be as capable over fences as he was over hurdles with an almost flawless debut in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

TOP-CLASS staying hurdler Grands Crus is set to make his eagerly-anticipated debut over fences at Cheltenham on Friday.

LONG RUN and Kauto Star are the headline names among 19 entries for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19.

Big Buck’s proved a different league to his rivals once again when completing a hat-trick of victories in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

WILLIE MULLINS insists his brilliant mare Quevega is likely to compete against her own sex once again at Cheltenham next year after completing a hat-trick in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle last week.

Ruby Walsh drove Big Buck’s to victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at sun-kissed Cheltenham yesterday and then exclaimed “St Patrick must have been looking down on me”.

Big Buck’s created history by winning his third straight Ladbrokes World Hurdle under Ruby Walsh.

I’LL be disappointed, very disappointed, if Big Buck’s fails to deliver in the World Hurdle today. He is a really, really good horse, one of the best I have ever sat on, and, essentially, I consider him bombproof.

On more than one occasion here I’ve said that racing can bring you through the full range of emotions and yesterday was another illustration of that for us.

PAUL NICHOLLS, top trainer at the meeting in five of the last seven years and with 27 festival winners to his credit, demands the utmost respect at Cheltenham this week.

MY road to the festival was the M5.

THERE were some fears that a deluge of rain would turn the ground soft for this season’s Cheltenham Festival but, at this stage, only a storm of biblical proportions could really affect the going before the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets the show on the road tomorrow afternoon.