Nicky Henderson is optimistic about the chances of Sprinter Sacre regaining the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Roi Des Francs gave Willie Mullins a third successive win (and a fourth in five years) in the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes Benz Novice Hurdle in Clonmel yesterday, the centrepiece of another treble for the champion trainer.

Monbeg Dude makes a belated last public appearance ahead of the Crabbie’s Grand National when he lines-up for the William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster this afternoon.

Long Run could tackle the £100,000 Kempton Park Chase at the Sunbury track on February 22 as a step towards a crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Jockey Martin Ferris fits neatly into the journeyman category but today he gets a first opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream of riding in the Grand National - and make his late father proud.

People might not think it because I haven’t had a runner, but I would really love to have a horse good enough to take part in the Aintree Grand National. It is a race we all dream of winning but I just haven’t had one yet.

Venetia Williams completed a fine training performance as Pepite Rose ran out an effortless winner of the EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders´ Association Mares´ Novices´ Chase Finale at Newbury this afternoon.

I KNOW the Paddy Power at Cheltenham today is the major contest of the weekend, but let’s start with the horse I consider my best ride over the two days, Hinterland in the first, a three-year-old hurdle.

MON Parrain is all the rage for this afternoon's Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham and it's very easy to see why.

ALWAYS Waining may have missed getting a run in the John Smith’s Grand National by the skin of his teeth but he managed to achieve the next best thing at Aintree on Friday.

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Dessie Hughes feels Vic Venturi and In Compliance are ready to do themselves justice in the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday.

Dessie Hughes’ In Compliance will continue his Grand National preparations in the Kilcash Chase at Clonmel on Thursday.

Jason Maguire crowned his best ever season when reaching a century for the first time on Nedzer's Return, the middle leg of a 155-1 treble at Perth.

WHINSTONE BOY added to his considerable gains in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park two weeks earlier, with another terrific display in the Kilcash Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Charlie Swan is already looking forward to next year’s John Smith’s Grand National, when he could have two runners in Offshore Account and Oodachee.

Paul Nicholls is hoping the faster surface at Punchestown will enable Twist Magic to return to his best in the Kerrygold Champion Chase on the opening day of the Festival meeting.

Malcolm Jefferson plans to send a small but select team to Aintree’s three-day Grand National meeting next week.

Malcom Jefferson’s Roman Ark is set to bid for glory in the John Smith’s Topham Chase at Aintree.

Ferdy Murphy is looking to plunder another valuable contest when Leading Man tackles the totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree on Sunday.

Peter Bowen is hoping the success of Dunbrody Millar in the John Smith’s Topham Chase is a good omen for his dual raid on tomorrow’s Grand National with McKelvey and Ballycassidy.

CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls will call on the likes of Kauto Star and Denman at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will call on the likes of Kauto Star and Denman at the Cheltenham Festival next month but of his more low-profile contenders, he is particularly keen on the chance of Nycteos in the Racing Post Plate.

Whitenzo has hinted a return to top form could be imminent and makes plenty of appeal in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup Chase.

HEDGEHUNTER is a general 4-1 favourite with the English firms, although Irish bookmakers Cashmans and Paddy Power buck the trend with a 5-1 offer, to land back-to-back runnings of the John Smith’s Grand National after heading the list of 84 horses left in the Aintree spectacular at the five-day confirmation stage.

Ferdy Murphy believes outsider Haut De Gamme is a “massive price” for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Hakim belied his advancing years with a personal best performance to win the totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Worcestershire trainer John Spearing and young jockey Paddy Brennan tasted success over the Grand National fences for the first time when they teamed up with Hakim in the totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Impek gained a poignant victory for owner Jim Lewis and trainer Henrietta Knight in the totesport Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

Longshanks could make a quick reappearance in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National next weekend after his pleasing performance in the John Smith’s And Spar Topham Chase last Friday.

Two years ago Grey Abbey finished a gallant fourth in the Scottish Grand National and another tilt at the Ayr marathon is on the cards after his resounding success in the Tote Scoop6 Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster yesterday.

Well-backed Martell Cognac Grand National contender Be My Manager is set to have his final start before Aintree when he lines up at Kempton Park on Friday.

THE courageous Quazar turned-over Back In Front at the end of a thrilling Emo Oil Champion Hurdle before a crowd of 15,600 at Punchestown yesterday.

THE rather frustrating Greywell has a leading chance in the Murphys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cork this afternoon.

JIMMY MANGAN is laid-back by nature and rarely gets flustered. Come 3.45 on Saturday, however, his heart will surely miss a beat as the field swivels to face the starter for the 2003 Grand National at Aintree.

Ominously for punters in the week of the Martell Grand National, the recent trend for shocks in big handicaps is showing no sign of coming to an end.