PAUL NICHOLLS feels Royal Auclair will have to be at his very best if he is to win Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup.

Puntal dug deep to prevail in a truly thrilling Betfred Gold Cup, the feature race on the final day of the jumps season at Sandown.

What’s Up Boys heads a 19-runner field for the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday following today’s final declaration stage.

Baracouda again put the pretenders in their place as he made a winning reappearance in the Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury today.

Intersky Falcon will face a maximum of nine rivals when he bids to continue his winning ways in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Martin Pipe will leave his Ladbroke Hurdle running plans as late as possible.

TIKRAM, 25-1 for the Ladbroke Hurdle with the sponsors on Monday, is now as low as 12-1 in two places after the flow of support for Gary Moore’s hurdler continued yesterday.

Martin Pipe will leave his Ladbroke Hurdle running plans as late as possible, the champion trainer said today.