PNicholls

We have just made our entries for some of the big race early closers at the Cheltenham Festival, and we have left seven in the Gold Cup, five in the Ryanair and four in the Champion Chase.

Obviously, Kauto Star heads our Gold Cup entries and he was mad fresh and well when schooling for the final time ahead of Saturday's King George this morning. Denman has just started back cantering after his break, and the other two that are being targeted at the race at the moment are Pride Of Dulcote and What A Friend.

Pride Of Dulcote goes to the Irish Hennessy on February 6 after his comeback defeat of Punchestowns at Newbury, while What A Friend goes to the Aon before the Festival.

Neptune Collonges, Noland and The Nightingale make up the septet. The former has questions to answer after his run at Cheltenham last month and may be more of a Grand National horse. But we will see where we stand after he runs in the Argento.

Noland delighted me with his second in a Jumpers Bumper but looks more of a Ryanair contender (see below) at this stage. As for The Nightingale he could also be more of a Ryanair horse too, but I would look pretty bloody stupid if he wasn't in the Gold Cup if he went and won on Saturday.

We have five in the Ryanair, and the quintet is headed by last year's runner-up Poquelin. And after beating Great Endeavour off a mark of 163 at Cheltenham last month he is now favourite to go one better in March. As outlined above, The Nightingale and Noland get an entry, and Noland will go for the 2m5f handicap on Cheltenham Trials Day next. He looks fairly treated off 157.

Master Minded clearly is being aimed at the Champion Chase (see below) but Breedsbreeze ran a great race on his reappearance when second to Tartak in the rearranged Peterborough at Newbury. He goes for a handicap on Ascot on January 22.

Master Minded heads our Champion Chase entries and he goes for the Victor Chandler next, and he will be joined there by Tchico Polos after his fine second at Sandown on Saturday.

The progressive Woolcombe Folly goes for the Game Spirit next and Tataniano, perhaps the forgotten horse in the 2m division, goes either for the Game Spirit as well, or a Doncaster handicap in a fortnight.

All in all, we have a pretty strong looking hand in those races.

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