Jim Culloty blamed the ground for Lord Windermere’s below-par run in the Lexus Chase over Christmas and all roads still lead to a defence of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, for which 35 entries have been revealed.

Mouse Morris insists it is “50-50” whether First Lieutenant contests the Ryanair Chase or the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup at next week’s Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s thought process over My Tent Or Yours was fairly transparent as he took the gelding to Huntingdon for the EBF Connolly’s Red Mills “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.