Paul Nicholls extended his lead over Willie Mullins in a pulsating duel for the British trainers’ championship when enjoying a 54th birthday 20-1 four-timer at Wincanton yesterday.

Solar Impulse bounced back to form when springing a 28-1 surprise in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.

Ballyandy inched home in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper to give both trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey-son Sam doubles at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls tasted success for the first time at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival when Diego Du Charmil and Romain De Senam gave the Ditcheat trainer a one-two in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

There are 14 top-class chasers remaining in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

Alan King believes Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Annacotty is in even better shape than he was last month as he aims to secure a notable double in Saturday’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Un De Sceaux, last season’s top novice, heads a list of 10 entries for the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday but won’t face a showdown with Sprinter Sacre at Sandown after Nicky Henderson withdrew the nine-year-old from the race.

Paul Nicholls believes Hennessy Gold Cup favourite Saphir Du Rheu can defy the burden of top weight at Newbury today.

Davy Condon insists he feels “very lucky” despite being forced to retire from the saddle due to a spinal injury.

Jonjo O’Neill feels Shutthefrontdoor has the right credentials to give AP McCoy an unforgettable final ride in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Grand National-winning jockey Jason Maguire will miss this year’s renewal of the world’s greatest steeplechase as he sits out the rest of the campaign to recover from injury.

Willie Mullins intends to enter his Champion Hurdle big guns at the Aintree Grand National meeting.

The days of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck’s, Master Minded and Ruby Walsh are long gone for Paul Nicholls, writes Pat Keane.

Leading owner John Hales is already dreaming of a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup tilt with Aux Ptits Soins after the French import starred in a treble for Paul Nicholls by landing the Coral Cup.

Paul Nicholls may no longer possess the firepower he once dominated the Cheltenham Festival, and entire British national hunt season.

The New One’s Stan James Champion Hurdle preparations neared completion yesterday with a satisfactory schooling session.

Paul Nicholls is adamant ante-post favourite Silviniaco Conti is the one to beat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sam Twiston-Davies is excited by the prospect of riding Rocky Creek in the Crabbie’s Grand National following his victory under a big weight at Kempton on Saturday.

Sam Twiston-Davies feels connections will learn an awful lot about smart novice Ptit Zig in today’s Betfair Ascot Chase.

Zarkandar will head straight to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with an upbeat report from trainer Paul Nicholls.

Richard Johnson is confident Champagne West has a "great chance" of getting back on the winning trail in the Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown today.

The New One will face six rivals in the www.StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock today – if the meeting survives a morning inspection.

Tea For Two produced a visually exceptional display at Kempton on Saturday when he turned the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle into nothing more than a routine canter.

The multi-talented Bryan Cooper gave Road To Riches an extraordinary ride to land the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Paul Nicholls tightened his stranglehold on the William Hill King George VI Chase when 15-8 favourite Silviniaco Conti provided him with a record ninth success in the St Stephen’ s Day feature at Kempton.

It really is silly season in Britain, with all sorts of people calling for horses to be disqualified should the winning jockey transgress the whip rules.

Jockey Noel Fehily is in confident mood as Silviniaco Conti prepares to defend his crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Friday.

The contentious issue of the whip reared its head again after a pulsating finish to The Ladbroke at Ascot.

Irish stars Gordon Lord Byron and Sole Power were out of luck in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint, which was won by Aerovelocity at Sha Tin yesterday.

Sam Twiston-Davies believes The New One needs to win today’s StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham today to keep his Champion Hurdle dreams firmly alive.

Paul Nicholls reports Silviniaco Conti to be bouncing ahead of the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day but is hoping for suitably soft ground at the Sunbury venue over Christmas.

Pineau De Re will not run over fences again before he defends his crown in the Crabbie’s Grand National next April.

For the past two weekends Sam Twiston-Davies has won the Paddy Power Gold Cup and guided The New One to victory and he warmed up for the mount on Rocky Creek in the Hennessy Gold Cup by riding a treble at Lingfield.

Sam Twiston-Davies and Paul Nicholls proved the star turns at Cheltenham on Saturday as the relatively new partnership enjoyed a red-letter day in their association with a high-profile double.

Caid Du Berlais denied Johns Spirit back-to-back Paddy Power Gold Cup wins in the last couple of strides at Cheltenham.

Taghrooda is on track for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe despite suffering a shock reverse at York last week.