Taranis introduced himself as a potential dark horse in Paul Nicholls’ apparently unassailable defence of the Cheltenham Gold Cup by making a successful return from serious injury in the Argento Chase.

I RIDE in all seven races at Cheltenham this afternoon and will certainly be disappointed if returning to Ireland tonight without a winner.

Denman put up a remarkable weight-carrying performance to win the Hennessy Gold Cup for a second time at Newbury.

Ante-post favourite Denman heads 37 remaining entries in Saturday’s renewal of the historic Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The Listener provided Nick Mitchell with the biggest win of his training career to date with an all-the-way win in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Denman and Kauto Star feature among 28 horses left in the £475,000 (€527,000) totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the latest forfeit stage.

Two stories dominated the racing pages this weekend – and both failed to satiate the headline-makers.

I COULD hardly have been more pleased when hearing the Aon Chase had been re-routed to Kempton today and what promised to be a particularly drab weekend has now been livened up no end.

DENMAN will face six rivals at Kempton today including King George VI runner-up Albertas Run, whose connections are hoping the ground is not too testing.

The entries for the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National have been revealed, with last year’s Gold Cup winner Denman the headline act from a total of 123.

Recent Haydock winner Coe could return to the Merseyside track for the Blue Square Gold Cup on February 14.

Colin Tizzard has yet to decide whether to give Joe Lively another run before taking on Denman and Kauto Star in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13.

JOE Lively is a possible for the Letheby And Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on January 24 following his creditable effort in the Coral Welsh National.

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.

TODAY’S featured Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham is typically competitive for a race of its nature but there’s no doubt that the Nicholls-Walsh partnership will be centre of attention once more as they team up with favourite Silverburn.

Nigel Twiston-Davies expects punters to see the “real” Imperial Commander when he lines up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls closed to within £100,000 (€123,598) of Aidan O’Brien’s prize-money mark for the last Flat season by saddling a treble at Cheltenham.

Cloudy Lane, ante-post favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 5, features among the 115 horses still engaged in the Aintree marathon.

Albertas Run, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy, won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Charlie Mann believes Air Force One has “every chance” in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Joe Lively is still on course for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase despite failing to sparkle at Ascot on Saturday.

Albertas Run leapt to the head of the betting for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase by flattening some lofty reputations at Ascot.

Joe Lively goes on trial for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in Saturday’s John Smith’s Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot.

Although certainly not the most original of selections, it is almost impossible to envisage defeat for Kauto Star at Ascot tomorrow.

Colin Tizzard banished a 33-day losing run when Mister Quasimodo put his rivals to the sword in the Kempton Park Graduation Chase.

Air Force One is set for an early clash with Joe Lively in the John Smith’s Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot on February 16.

Snowy Morning is now the 10-1 clear favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National following the publication of the weights.

Mr Pointment will have to defy a welter of statistics if he is to claim John Smith’s Grand National glory at Aintree.

Colin Tizzard has started 2008 in the same rich vein of form he ended last year and Ironside netted another valuable prize for his West Country stable in the £25,000 skybet.com Sussex National at Plumpton.

Labelthou is set for a sterner test than her first British outing over fences in the December Novices’ Chase at Lingfield on Saturday.

Just 24 hours after Denman’s breathtaking success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, the Paul Nicholls bandwagon rolled back into town as the champion trainer saddled an 11-1 treble at Newbury, all ridden by man of the moment Sam Thomas.

Timmy Murphy healed the wounds of a forgettable 24 hours by mastering the complicated Abragante in the feature race at Wincanton.

Knowhere could return to Cheltenham next month for the Paddy Power Gold Cup after grabbing a narrow victory in the feature event on yesterday’s card at Prestbury Park.

Henry Cecil is facing an important few weeks with the likes of Multidimensional and Passage Of Time leading an assault on some big prizes, but Wraith can score at a lower level for the yard tomorrow.

Michael Jarvis is one of the most respected figures in the game, yet his horses are constantly underrated in the market.