Long Run will face 19 rivals as he bids to get his season off to a winning start in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

CHELTENHAM is a magical place and I am really looking forward to seven rides there this afternoon for Paul Nicholls.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies has no fears about the track as his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander bids to follow up in the totesport Bowl at Aintree today.

FOR about three minutes yesterday afternoon, Paul Barber was sure he had won another Gold Cup.

NIGEL Twiston-Davies rounded off a wonderful day when Baby Run ran the opposition ragged to take the Christis's Foxhunter Chase.

After quite a civilised Festival in terms of Betfair activity, there were some significant winners and losers on Friday's Cheltenham card.

Paddy Brennan and Nigel Twiston-Davies crowned a day to remember with a stunning victory for Pigeon Island in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

WHAT could prove a significant piece in Tony McCoy’s John Smith’s Grand National jigsaw emerged at Cheltenham yesterday as the champion jockey piloted Can’t Buy Time to success in the victorchandler.com Handicap Chase.

Punchestowns is part of a small but classy field for the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.

It was a case of "normal service resumed" as Cheltenham launched its new season with Martin Pipe and his trainer son David back in the winner's enclosure with 20-1 surprise Mutual Friend.

Amy Winehouse described it as an “honour” to be playing St Lucia’s jazz festival today, as a reward for the locals who have welcomed her.

Numide (5-1) just came out on top in a thrilling battle with Aigle D'Or in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

Top-weight and leading fancy Ashkazar has been declared a non-runner in tomorrow’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Lindeman helped Cheltenham’s race sponsors prove their point as she galloped away with the Buy Your Winners At Brightwells Sales Mares Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

There were no major surprises among the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle defectors as Sizing Europe, Osana and reigning title-holder Sublimity all appeared among the five-day confirmations.

Pigeon Island, who is retaining his form despite an incredibly arduous campaign, flew right away with the Anglo Irish Bank Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton.

CHAMPION hurdler Sublimity heads a high-class entry of 14 for the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

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