Paul Nicholls is not putting any pressure on stable jockey Harry Cobden, as decision day over his Ladbrokes King George VI Chase mount looms — with either Sam Twiston-Davies or Sean Bowen likely to pick up a cracking spare ride.

The eight-year-old surrendered her unbeaten record over fences when going down by a length and a quarter to Kalashnikov at Aintree on her final start last season but that was her sole defeat in five starts in the 2018-19 campaign.

When John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown crash-landed into a Connemara bog almost a century ago, it was a Cork-born journalist who broke the news of their non-stop transatlantic flight to the rest of the world.

It’s hard to recall a more open Cheltenham Gold Cup than the one that will unfold before our eyes at 3.30pm this afternoon. Of the 16 set to go to post in the Magners-sponsored Cheltenham Festival highlight, only four can be dismissed with real confidence – it really is that open.

After the conspicuous lack of success on Day One I’m twitchy.

Not at his best, perhaps, but Altior is without defeat in 18 consecutive outings in the national hunt sphere and a world-record 13 times over fences.

From Arkle v Mill House to Kauto Star v Denman to Native River v Might Bite, the Cheltenham Festival has produced some epic duels down the years. It’ll be no different this week and the three showdowns below certainly won’t be for the faint-hearted, says Darren Norris

Muhammad Ali may have been famous for his razor-sharp one-liners but it was one of his deeper, more profound statements that came to mind when the sad news of Denman’s death, aged 18, emerged yesterday morning.

Thistlecrack has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second year running following the discovery of a stress fracture in a leg yesterday.

England’s King George III went mad in 1776, and nearly 220 years had to pass, and cinema had to be invented, before his ordeal, and his son’s impatient ambitions, inspired Alan Bennett to write his wonderful 1994 film script about the Regency Crisis.

Colin Tizzard expects Cue Card to have just three more runs before heading into retirement, with the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Tuesday week looking increasingly unlikely.

Officials at the British Horseracing Authority have denied claims Many Clouds was at increased risk in continuing to race having previously had what was described as a “wobble” after two of his big-race successes.

Welcome to the most exciting weekend of the National Hunt season this side of the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing in Britain received a seismic jolt yesterday after Jockey Club Racecourses announced that Kempton, home of the historic King George VI Chase, could be closed for housing redevelopment “from 2021 at the earliest”.

Min boosted his reputation with a sparkling performance in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Thistlecrack, trained by Colin Tizzard and ridden by Tom Scudamore, has won the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton.

I’ve ridden in a lot of King Georges but I don’t remember riding in one with such a small field.

Road To Riches is “50-50” to take his up his engagement in the 32Red King George VI Chase, according to trainer Noel Meade.

Owner Rich Ricci says his “heart went out to Willie Mullins” when the trainer rang him to tell him three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour had died in freak accident on Sunday.

Hawkbill, winner of the Coral-Eclipse, is among 55 entries for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

A high-profile campaign for the rest of the year is in the pipeline for red-hot King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes favourite Postponed.

Aidan O'Brien is set to rely upon Highland Reel in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot next Saturday.

Des O’Sullivan describes one of the highlight auctions of the year with contents from Lotabeg going under the hammer.

Just the two rides for me again this afternoon, and Limini looks to have the better chance of the two. She was probably a bit disappointing at Aintree, but was too keen for her own good and got found out at the end of the race.

We really ought to have known better. History has shown that underestimating Carlingford Lough and John Kiely is a foolish move but some lessons are harder absorbed than others.

The house contents of Lotabeg — a time capsule of long-hidden antique delights — will be auctioned by Mealy’s in Cork next month.

Thirty years ago, a stubborn mare piloted by a veteran jockey and trained by a quiet genius produced the most iconic, spine-tingling moment in Cheltenham Festival history

In the past 24 hours the main social media streams have been alive with rumours Vautour will head to the Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup. With little expectation of immediate confirmation from the stable, it remains pure speculation, but is there a credible source?