LEADING Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Jair Du Cochet has been put down after suffering a tragic injury on the gallops.

Leading Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Jair Du Cochet has been put down after suffering a tragic injury on the gallops.

OWNER David Johnson yesterday refused to rule out a tilt at the Tote Cheltenham Gold with his promising novice Therealbandit.

French trainer Guillaume Macaire is praying for a “little bit of luck” for Jair Du Cochet in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

FRENCH challenger Jair Du Cochet is set to go off a hot favourite for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on St Stephen’s Day.

JAIR DU COCHET, the horse no money can buy, is about to step up a gear in his preparations for the traditional St Stephen’s Day highlight, the Pertemps King George VI Chase.

HENRIETTA KNIGHT has reported Best Mate “60 per cent likely” to go for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

French raider Jair Du Cochet lowered the colours of hot favourite Best Mate when beating the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner with ease in the Tote Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon today.

The first three home in the Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last Saturday – Moneytrain, Don Fernando and Saintsaire – are among 111 entered in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on March 13.

INTERSKY FALCON was made the joint-favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in one book after taking the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton yesterday.

LEADING French jumps trainer Guillaume Macaire has assembled a formidable raiding party to challenge for big Christmas prizes at Kempton and Chepstow.

French trainer Guillaume Macaire was ultra-critical of jockey Jaques Ricou’s riding of unplaced Jair Du Cochet in the Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle landed by Baracouda at Cheltenham.

Star French novice chaser Japhet, who lost his unbeaten record at Newbury earlier this month, will run at Kempton on Friday, his trainer Guillaume Macaire has confirmed.

Cyfor Malta is expected to make his eagerly-awaited return to action at Cheltenham on Saturday.