Jockey Paddy Brennan believes Khyber Kim could be a “lively outsider” for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

Zarkandar attempts to boost his strong claims for the Stan James Champion Hurdle when he lines up at Wincanton today.

BIG BUCK’S bids to take his unbeaten run over the smaller obstacles to 12 when he attempts to win the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle for the third year running at Aintree tomorrow.

PEDDLERS CROSS and Binocular feature among a fascinating list of 13 entries for Saturday’s John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle.

Peddlers Cross and Binocular feature among a fascinating list of 13 entries for Saturday’s John Smith’s Hurdle at Aintree.

Menorah and Hurricane Fly share favouritism with the sponsors for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday following the shock absence of Binocular.

Menorah heads a field of 11 in the shock absence of Binocular in Tuesday’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Imperial Commander continues to please Nigel Twiston-Davies ahead of his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup defence on Friday.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies has scoffed at the concept of Imperial Commander being too old to win another totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Imperial Commander was reported to be much more like his old self as he continued the build-up to his defence of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup with a gallop before racing at Kempton.

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES’ two big Cheltenham Festival hopes, Imperial Commander and Khyber Kim, are to work before racing at Kempton on Saturday.

BOYLESPORTS.com yesterday announced that they will refund bets on second placed horses in the first four races of the Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Trophy, Festival Handicap Chase and Champion Hurdle, on bets placed with Boyleports.com and with the firm over the phone.

TWENTY-FOUR horses, and all the big names, remain in the reckoning at the latest forfeit stage for next month’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

BIG BUCK’S and Mikael D’Haguenet are the standout name among 46 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17.

Big Buck’s is the standout name among 46 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17.

How strange is it to look at the programme for today and to see the King George and the Christmas Hurdle being run at Kempton?

Nicky Henderson believes the soft ground at Kempton today could dent Binocular’s greatest asset in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies is eagerly anticipating getting Khyber Kim back on the track in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Sunday.

I’M at Cheltenham today for Channel 4 and it’s terrific to see some proper racing back on the menu.

NICKY HENDERSON is much happier with Binocular ahead of his run in the stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle than he was at this stage 12 months ago. On that occasion, the 5-6 favourite for the Newcastle feature but could finish only fifth behind Go Native.

TOM TAAFFE has reported Finger Onthe Pulse on target for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Menorah heads the weights for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday after 25 horses were left in at the confirmation stage.

IRISH bookmakers Boylesports are to end their sponsorship of the International meeting at Cheltenham in December after four years.

Irish bookmakers Boylesports are to end their sponsorship of the International meeting at Cheltenham in December after four years.

IT’S Grand National Day again and last year proved, with a 100-1 winner, that the National is the National whatever way you look at it. You can take form, ground, jockeys, trainers and whatever else you like but, at the end of the day, it’s the National and anything can win it.

DONALD McCAIN is confident Peddlers Cross will not suffer the dreaded ‘bounce factor’ in the John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree today.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies has confirmed he plans to take new Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Imperial Commander to Aintree for the totesport Bowl on Thursday week.

Imperial Commander gate-crashed the showdown between Kauto Star and Denman to run out a fantastic winner of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Imperial Commander stayed on strongly up the hill for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and jockey Paddy Brennan to land the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

THAT’S the beauty of Cheltenham. For every disappointment – and there were plenty yesterday, starting with Dunguib – there is a heart-warming tale to soften the blow of those worthless dockets trampled underfoot.

BINOCULAR, a fast-finishing third the year before and a doubtful runner until relatively recently, stormed away with the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at sun-drenched Cheltenham yesterday.

Binocular bounced right back to his brilliant best with a devastating display in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

IF Solwhit strips at the peak of his powers then he can land the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the first stage of the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.

BARRY GERAGHTY believes Punjabi has been underestimated ahead of his bid for back-to-back victories in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle today.

I HEADED for Cheltenham on Sunday night and then had a relaxing enough day yesterday.

Nicky Henderson is fearful of the challenge posed by his former inmate Khyber Kim in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle – despite playing a three-strong hand tomorrow with Punjabi, Zaynar and Binocular.

GO NATIVE will face 11 rivals as he bids to secure a £1m bonus in tomorrow’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Nigel Twiston-Davies reports Khyber Kim to be in fine shape ahead of next month’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Blue Bajan heads a final field of 24 runners for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies has decided to skip the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 13 with Khyber Kim and head straight for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

SOLWHIT, a top-priced 6-1 with most firms yesterday for the Champion Hurdle, can live his Cheltenham prospects a major boost by landing the Tohiba-sponsored Irish equivalent at Leopardstown tomorrow.

THE countdown to Cheltenham has really started now and it promises to be a revealing weekend, between Ascot and Haydock this afternoon and the two days at Leopardstown.