THERE were no surprises among the 38 entries, released yesterday, for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup which takes place on Friday, March 13.

There were no surprises among the 38 entries for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup which takes place on Friday, March 13

Katchit, the reigning Champion Hurdler, is to be given a month’s break away from Alan King’s Barbury Castle base in a bid to reinvigorate him before his title defence at Cheltenham in March.

Notre Pere carved out his own little piece of racing history by becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow.

Notre Pere was crowned the first Irish-trained winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup favourite Big Buck’s has, along with 30 others, stood his ground at the latest forfeit stage for the prestigious handicap.

Joe Lively came right back to his best in the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham to set up a possible tilt at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

Grand National winner Comply Or Die has the option of kicking off his season in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 28.

Natagora and Infallible both did their bit to liven up the ante-post 1000 Guineas market in the week before John Dunlop’s Muthabara followed suit at Newbury on Saturday.

Sean Curran feels Iris De Balme could be a serious Grand National contender after his 66-1 success in the Coral-sponsored Scottish equivalent at Ayr.

Iris De Balme produced an extraordinary performance to land the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Alan King’s Halcon Genelardais tops 24 horses declared for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Lenny Lungo is hoping Wild Cane Ridge can become the first home-trained winner of Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr for 26 years.

The presence of top weight Halcon Genelardais in Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National appears to have frightened off a good proportion of the opposition as 51 horses were removed at the five-day stage.

Halcon Genelardais has been left at the head of the weights for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on April 26.

Kauto Star is only 2lbs clear of stablemate Neptune Collonges for the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown after the duo finished behind Denman last week.

Denman is even-money favourite with sponsors totesport to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup again next March after ripping the crown from his stablemate Kauto Star.

Sponsors totesport make Kauto Star their even-money favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second successive year following the confirmation stage for the great race on Friday.

Ruby Walsh is confident three miles will bring out the best in Gungadu as Paul Nicholls’ runner bids to defy the welter burden of 11st 12lb in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton tomorrow.

VOY Por Ustedes will enjoy a well-deserved break after regaining the winning thread at Kempton over the Christmas period.

MIKO DE BEAUCHENE gave his trainer Robert Alner the best possible compensation for a Christmas spent in hospital as he grabbed the Coral Welsh National in the final strides.

Miko De Beauchene got up in the final strides to nail top-weight Halcon Genelardais and claim the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow.

Halcon Genelardais will have to overcome 19 rivals as well as top weight of 11st 12lb when he bids to land back-to-back victories in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow tomorrow.

John Quinn’s Character Building heads a field of 24 for the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

My Will has been allotted top weight of 11st 12lb in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 21.

Hot favourite Kauto Star heads a field of 19 declared for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Kauto Star tops a list of 24 horses left in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the confirmation stage.

ASIAN MAZE, Harchibald, Hardy Eustace and Macs Joy could clash at Gowran Park on Saturday in a high-class renewal of the Red Mills Trial Hurdle.

Welsh National winner Halcon Genelardais and Rehearsal Chase winner Neptune Collonges top the weights for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock.

Blazing Bailey may have derailed the Black Jack Ketchum bandwagon, but Jonjo O’Neill fought back from that shock reverse as Exotic Dancer burst into the totesport Gold Cup picture with a runaway success in the Letheby And Christopher Chase at Cheltenham.

Connections of Halcon Genelardais aim to find out if their Welsh National winner is up to totesport Gold Cup standard with an outing in the Letherby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on January 27.

CONNECTIONS of Halcon Genelardais aim to find out if their Welsh National winner is up to totesport Gold Cup standard with an outing in the Letherby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on January 27.

Connections of Halcon Genelardais aim to find out if their Welsh National winner is up to totesport Gold Cup standard with an outing in the Letherby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on January 27.

Kauto Star could face the first three home from last season’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in his bid to join the racing legends at Prestbury Park in March.

KAUTO STAR could face the first three home from last season’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in his bid to join the racing legends at Prestbury Park in March.

Kauto Star tops a bumper 49-strong entry for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Coral Welsh National winner Halcon Genelardais has recovered well from his epic victory at Chepstow last week and has a variety of options awaiting him this year.

ALAN KING’S masterplan came off and Wayne Hutchinson enjoyed the finest moment of his career as Halcon Genelardais ran out a convincing winner of the Coral Welsh National yesterday.

Halcon Genelardais defied 11st 3lb to run out a gutsy winner of the Coral Welsh National for Alan King and Wayne Hutchinson.

Halcon Genelardais would appear to hold all the aces in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Wednesday, but Kinburn can give him something to think about.

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

Hennessy Gold Cup winner State Of Play has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27.

CONNECTIONS of Iris’s Gift are hoping the grey can boost his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup prospects at Warwick today.

Connections of Iris’s Gift are hoping the grey can boost his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup prospects at Warwick tomorrow.