There are 44 entries for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, including 12 trained in Ireland as well as two each from France and Germany.

Intersky Falcon will face a maximum of nine rivals when he bids to continue his winning ways in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Today’s scheduled appeal by champion jumps trainer Martin Pipe and jockey Barry Geraghty against the punishments meted out by the Cheltenham stewards, over the running and riding of Magnus earlier this month, has been adjourned.

Peter Beaumont is dreaming of training a second winner of the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup after Hussard Collonges sprung a 33-1 surprise in the £125,000 Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Tony McCoy has opted to ride Shooting Light in tomorrow’s £100,000stg Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham.