Nicky Henderson insists Grandouet remains on course for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday despite taking an alarming drift on the betting exchanges yesterday afternoon.

Nicky Henderson was left perfectly satisfied as he worked a high-profile Cheltenham team after racing at Kempton.

Nicky Henderson feels he has not spotted an exceptional rival from another stable to prevent him from lifting the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup once again.

Henry de Bromhead said it was “50-50” which race Sizing Europe will run in at Cheltenham after he was officially scratched from the Betfred Gold Cup.

Long Run may set his own pace as the 2011 Gold Cup hero bids to reclaim his William Hill King George VI Chase crown at Kempton on Wednesday.

I’m hoping to win the King George at Kempton on Wednesday aboard Kauto Stone, but the more I’ve looked at the race the more convinced I’ve become that Long Run is going to be hard to beat.

Henry de Bromhead has confirmed Sizing Europe will not run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Grands Crus’ part-owner Roger Stanley maintains no hasty decisions will be taken over whether the grey participates in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

After Willie Mullins’ Zaidpour had landed the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Sunday, everyone wanted to know what the Cheltenham target for the six-year-old would be.

Bog Warrior is likely to be back in action in “three to four weeks” after his fall at Down Royal on Saturday.

QUEL ESPRIT looks the safest proposition in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup at the second stage of the festival this evening.

The imperious Big Buck’s created a slice of racing history at Aintree yesterday in the BGC Liverpool Hurdle – and it never looked in any doubt.

Follow The Plan stunned punters with a 50-1 shock success in the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree.

Keiran Burke is excited about the prospect of Hunt Ball stepping up from handicaps to the highest level in the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree tomorrow.

Tony McCoy will ride Burton Port in the Grade 1 Betfred Bowl at Aintree tomorrow, with Barry Geraghty sticking with Ryanair Chase winner Riverside Theatre.

The first four home from Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase are all entered in what promises to be a memorable renewal of the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on April 24.

Forpadydeplasterer is likely to go for the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree next month in his bid to end his luckless streak.

It says a lot about a man who has just scooped over €1.5m when he says his Ford Focus will do fine for another while, he’ll continue his 6am work regime, and he has no intention of packing up the arduous hours of a stable lad.

In no particular order or weight ... Paul Brady, Henry Shefflin, Myrtle Allen, Saoirse Ronan, the Gulf Stream’s micro climate, Seamus Heaney, Fiona Shaw, Martin Hayes, Graham Norton, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Rory McIlroy, Olivia O’Leary, Connemara, the Delphi and Blackwater valleys, Julie Feeney, John Hume, Lyric FM, Michael Noonan’s unflinching, selfless resolve at a moment of great personal tragedy.

A stable lad belonging to the Nicky Henderson stable has won around £1m (€1.2m) in an accumulator bet on five of the yard’s runners at the Cheltenham Festival this week.

Another brilliant festival has flown by and the last day is upon us.

When Mick Fitzgerald was forced to retire, Nicky Henderson must have wondered if he would ever find a jockey with the style, the swagger and the ability to replace him.

Seven Barrows is the place to be right now if you’re a horse, and it’s not a bad place to be as a guest of Nicky Henderson’s either.

Nicky Henderson’s season has always revolved around Cheltenham, but this year’s Festival could arguably be as important as any during his long and distinguished career.

This has traditionally been the time of year when Binocular causes Nicky Henderson a major problem, but the trainer believes his troublesome gelding could just be in the shape to redeem himself in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Alan King feels it makes more sense for Medermit to run in the Betfair Ascot Chase tomorrow rather than take on Long Run at Newbury 24 hours earlier.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run could face up to seven rivals in the rearranged Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Friday.

RUBI LIGHT, third behind dual winner Albertas Run and Kalahari King in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season, will skip the Gold Cup this year for another crack at the Ryanair after he finished second in the Lexus.

Dual winner Albertas Run heads the 38 entries for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 15.

Henrietta Knight is looking forward to stepping her talented chaser Somersby over to staying distances this season.

WHEN Kauto Star landed the Gold Cup two years ago he created history.

NICKY HENDERSON has effectively ruled Punchestowns out of the Cheltenham Festival and is considering giving the chestnut a run at the racecourse which has lent him his name.

NICKY HENDERSON has nominated Hurricane Fly as the biggest threat to Binocular in his defence of the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

TONY McCOY will ride ante-post favourite Fistral Beach in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on Saturday as the eight-year-old bids to improve on last season’s performance in the race.

Big Fella Thanks is likely to have one more run before a third crack at the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Riverside Theatre notched a first Grade One success as he romped home in the Betfair Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track.

I RATE Paul Nicholls’ The Minack the bet of the day in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot this afternoon.

BIG BUCK’S and Grands Crus remain on course for a mouthwatering clash in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after their names appeared among 34 remaining entries following the latest forfeit stage.

It’s funny how things have worked out with the delay of a week’s racing due to the heavy rain.

LEOPARDSTOWN general manager Tom Burke reports conditions to be improving ahead of their rearranged fixture this Saturday.

Paul Nicholls will be double-handed in Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury with What A Friend and Noland among the nine entries for the reopened Grade Two.

TIMEFORM’S Simon Walker believes Long Run needs to improve if he is to win the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.