MARTIN PIPE holds a strong hand in the bonusprint.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday after leaving five horses in the showpiece handicap at yesterday’s five-day confirmation stage.

SHARDAM’S position at the head of the market for tomorrow’s Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown strengthened yesterday, with Ladbrokes cutting the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding into 7-2 from 4s for the £150,000 showpiece.

What’s Up Boys heads a 19-runner field for the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday following today’s final declaration stage.

Martin Pipe is delaying making a decision on the participation of Martell Cognac Grand National third Lord Atterbury in Saturday’s Betfred Gold Cup, for which the sponsors make him 6-1 joint favourite with Shardam.

THE Willie Mullins trained Alexander Banquet heads the weights for Saturday’s Betfred Gold Cup after 23 were left in the Sandown showpiece at yesterday’s confirmation stage.

Following the defection of First Gold at today’s final declaration stage, the weights for the Martell Cognac Grand National will go up 3lb to leave Le Coudray at the top of the handicap for Saturday’s race.

Connections of Monty’s Pass are expecting the 11-year-old to make a bold bid to repeat last year’s memorable victory in the Martell Cognac Grand National on Saturday.

Tikram (12-1) finished with a wet sail under Timmy Murphy to land the Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup.

Sir Rembrandt was today the subject of a massive gamble for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Saturday despite not having raced for 11 months.

FOXCHAPEL KING heads the 26 entries left in the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday following yesterday’s confirmation stage.

Hussard Collonges has been a "nearly" horse this season but that could all change in the big one a week on Thursday.

Martin Pipe’s Bounce Back heads the ante-post betting for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 30.

The life and times of Tony McCoy.

Tony McCoy faces a nervous few hours before a decision can be made over his participation in tomorrow’s Martell Grand National.

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.

Hussard Collonges, at a price of 33/1, has won the Royal And SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham.