Top Notch represents a good value bet in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, writes Tommy Lyons.

Nicky Henderson pointed to the effects of a lengthy season taking its toll on Long Run as the former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was well beaten in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil yesterday.

Hurricane Fly is on target to try for a sixth successive win at the Punchestown Festival and could face stablemate Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle, which he has won for the last four seasons, on May 2.

Barry Connell must feel like kicking something.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his jockey-son, Sam, have enjoyed unprecedented success over the Aintree fences but it could all pale into insignificance if Long Run wins the first £1m (€1.2m) renewal of the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Long Run gained his first win since the 2012 King George VI Chase when landing the odds in the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase at Kelso yesterday.

Paul Nicholls claimed his first William Hill King George VI Chase of the post-Kauto Star era as Silviniaco Conti hunted down Cue Card in the final stages of Kempton’s St Stephen’s feature.

Long Run’s jockey Sam Waley-Cohen has not ruled out a possible tilt at the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday week.

Tony McCoy admitted he found it tough to choose the Ted Walsh-trained Colbert Station over Sunnyhillboy in tomorrows John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

A 100-1 chance winner put smiles on lucky punters' faces at Aintree today.

Racing was the real winner, as Bobs Worth’s limitless stamina kicked in to land a decisive success in what was a fantastic Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham yesterday.

Bobs Worth provided Nicky Henderson with a second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in three years under Barry Geraghty.

Bobs Worth, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Barry Geraghty, won the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Last Tuesday you had to wonder whether Hurricane Fly continued to be blessed with four legs.

Not too many jockeys have the capacity to divide opinion like Sam Waley-Cohen.

Kauto Star has now been reduced to a ceremonial role in the William Hill King George VI Chase, but his first appearance at Kempton in retirement yesterday coincided with the most gripping finish since the era before the five-timer winner as his old foe Long Run claimed a dramatic second victory.

Long Run got up in the final strides to collar Captain Chris and regain his crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

David Elsworth, trainer of the legendary Desert Orchid, believes Long Run is the horse to beat in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Barry Geraghty will make a decision on his William Hill King George VI Chase mount “sooner rather than later” according to trainer Nicky Henderson.

Trainer Mouse Morris will wait until the middle of the week before deciding whether to let First Lieutenant take his chance in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Sam Waley-Cohen has escaped injury after a nasty-looking fall at Ascot yesterday.

Nicky Henderson had no excuses for the defeat of reigning Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Long Run.

You’d imagine JP McManus has spent much of his life hoping to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and yesterday at Cheltenham it all came right, when Tony McCoy brought the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Synchronised with an irresistible challenge to beat outsider The Giant Bolster and last year’s winner, Long Run.

Tony McCoy claimed his second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup as Synchronised showed reservoirs of stamina in the premier race of the National Hunt calendar.

1. The Tuesday bankers

Long Run’s connections declared themselves thoroughly satisfied after the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero continued his Festival preparations with a workmanlike victory at Newbury yesterday.

Long Run got back to winning ways in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury – but he was pushed all of the way by stable companion Burton Port.

Sam Waley-Cohen is taking nothing for granted as Long Run has his final run before defending his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in tomorrow’s Betfair Denman Chase.

GOLD Cup-winning rider Sam Waley-Cohen left Taunton yesterday in frustration after picking up his third suspension in less than a month.

Sensible placing from trainer Tor Sturgis saw Fulgora land her second consecutive race in the Happy New Year Claiming Hurdle at Taunton this afternoon.

Gold Cup-winning rider Sam Waley-Cohen left Taunton in frustration today after picking up his third suspension in less than a month.

THE more one looks at last Monday’s King George at Kempton, the more convinced you become that the Cheltenham Gold Cup is Long Run’s to lose.

KAUTO STAR sent Kempton Park racegoers into a state of mass hysteria and consolidated his position as the most acclaimed National Hunt horse since Arkle with an unprecedented fifth victory in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

Kauto Star sent Kempton Park racegoers into a state of mass hysteria and consolidated his position as the most acclaimed National Hunt horse since Arkle with an unprecedented fifth victory in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

Kauto Star brought the house down at Haydock with a brilliant performance to win the Betfair Chase for a fourth time.

British bookmakers fear another pounding if Tony McCoy and Don't Push It win the John Smith's Grand National for the second year running.

Sam Waley-Cohen will bid to become the first amateur jockey to ride the winner of the John Smith’s Grand National in over 20 years when he partners Oscar Time at Aintree tomorrow.

Last year’s winner Don’t Push It heads a maximum field of 40 runners in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

TONY MARTIN expects decent spring ground at Aintree to bring out the best in Northern Alliance when he lines up in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday week.

LAST YEAR’S winner Don’t Push It heads 74 remaining entries for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Totesport Gold Cup winner Long Run received a warm welcome at his home in Berkshire on Saturday morning.

LONG RUN became the first six-year-old since mighty Mill House in 1963 to win the Gold Cup when producing a stunning display of raw power and limitless stamina at Cheltenham yesterday.

Long Run signalled the new dawn of steeplechasing by winning a thrilling renewal of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup to give Nicky Henderson his first success in the race.