Nigel Twiston Davies hopes his progressive eight-year-old Knowhere is improving rapidly enough to lift the boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Voy Por Ustedes will face just six rivals as he bids for a big-race double in the John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree tomorrow.

KAUTO STAR, 7-2 favourite with the sponsors for the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham, has been ruled out of the race by trainer Paul Nicholls.

Alan King is aware of the task facing his four-year-old Penzance as he puts his unbeaten record on the line in tomorrow’s JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

STRONG FLOW, Back In Front, Azertyuiop, and plenty of others as well, ensure that no jockey will feel a greater sense of optimism facing into next week’s Cheltenham Festival than Ruby Walsh.