Racing:Last year's winner Imperial Commander heads 34 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 18th. This year's renewal has record prize-money of €600,000 and as expected all the big-name staying chasers are engaged.
Kauto Star, who became the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2009 after a first success in 2007, fell when still in contention four fences out last season.
He will head to the Cheltenham Gold Cup after attempting to win the King VI Chase for a record fifth time at Kempton on Saturday.
His trainer Paul Nicholls, who is bidding to join Arkle's trainer Tom Dreaper in winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a record fifth time, has also entered Denman, What A Friend, Noland, Neptune Collonges, The Nightingale and Pride Of Dulcote.
A total of nine Irish-trained entries include Pandorama, who posted an impressive victory in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th. Other notable names include Sizing Europe, China Rock, Cooldine and Joncol.
Despite being the leading current trainer at The Festival, Nicky Henderson has yet to taste victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but the Lambourn handler looks set to have a strong hand this year with last season's emphatic Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase scorer Long Run, due to be Kauto Star's main danger at Kempton this weekend, and Grade One winner Punchestowns.
Midnight Chase has excelled around Cheltenham this season with three consecutive victories for his handler Neil Mulholland, while exciting novice Time For Rupert, from the stable of Paul Webber, could also bid to enhance his perfect record over fences at Prestbury Park, having recorded a pair of eight length successes at The Open and The International.