Two beaten horses stole the limelight on a weekend of clues for the Cheltenham Festival and both look sure to be in the thick of the action when the major races are played out at Prestbury Park next month.

Iris’s Gift remains on course for a mouth-watering rematch with Baracouda after a promising seasonal reappearance at Haydock.

Gunner Welburn, fourth in last season’s Martell Cognac Grand National, is on course for another crack at the Aintree marathon following his return to winning form in a dramatic skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby yesterday.