DAVID PIPE is confident Madison Du Berlais can lay his Cheltenham hoodoo to rest in the Argento Chase today.

TRAINERS Tony Martin and Edward O’Grady carry the hopes of Ireland as they bid to end a 29-year-old drought in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham today.

Nigel Twiston-Davies could hardly be more bullish about his prospects of retaining the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges, the first three home in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup 12 months ago, all stood their ground at the confirmation stage for this year’s renewal at the Festival on Friday.

Nigel Twiston-Davies admits Knowhere faces a difficult task when he lines up under a welter burden in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday.

CHARLIE Mann has Air Force One in “the form of his life” as he prepares his six-year-old for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, for which 31 horses stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage.

Knowhere put himself on target for a crack at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup by claiming the scalps of Exotic Dancer and Voy Por Ustedes in a spectacular renewal of the intercasino.co.uk Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

REIGNING Champion Hurdler Katchit’s season did not get off to the best possible start as he suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Snap Tie in the WBX.COM Hurdle at Kempton yesterday.

PAUL Nicholls is doing his best to secure the services of Ruby Walsh for Turko, whom he fancies “quite strongly” for the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Nicky Richards has yet to decide which race Monet’s Garden will run in at Aintree next week.

Blaeberry emerged as a surprise candidate for the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after registering a second success over fences at Ludlow.

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

Owner JP McManus now has market leaders for both the Triumph Hurdle and the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle as Franchoek and Aigle D’Or respectively completed their Cheltenham warm-ups in fine style.

DAVID Pipe has his fingers crossed the forecast dry week materialises to give Abragante a leading chance in Saturday’s Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Trainer Milton Harris is eyeing a crack at next month’s Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham with stable star Magic Sky.

Davy Russell is delighted to have picked up the ride on Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup second-favourite Abragante.

DENMAN has been installed as the 4-1 favourite by totesport for Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, despite having to carry top weight.

L’Antartique stormed up the famous Cheltenham hill to repeat his Festival success in a Paddy Power Gold Cup heavily tinged with sadness.

Ruby Walsh is confident he can waste down to close to the minimum weight in order to give Granit Jack his optimum chance in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup.

L’Antartique has come through his final piece of work ahead of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham with flying colours.

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.

Nigel Twiston Davies hopes his progressive eight-year-old Knowhere is improving rapidly enough to lift the boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace proved himself no back-number and again staked his Champion Hurdle claim with an effortless success in the Grade Two Coral Ascot Hurdle at the Berkshire track.

TARANIS is holding on to his position as favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham even though the gamble on Vodka Bleu shows no signs of waning.

The Listener faces the stiffest examination of his promising career to date in a strong renewal of the Unicoin Homes “Dipper” Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Ferdy Murphy does not expect Leading Man to cause an upset in a competitive renewal of the Unicoin Homes “Dipper” Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday.