PNicholls

[u]13:30, JCB Triumph Hurdle[/u] [i]Dodging Bullets[/i] Showed smart form on the Flat in Ireland (beating Hisaabaat on his final start at Sligo of a mark of 89) and delighted me when second to Grumeti at Kempton on his hurdling debut last month. The winner probably won with a fair bit in hand and was giving us 7lb, but I was more than happy with that introductory run. He will be a lot sharper for it. I was originally going to keep him back for Aintree but he has really pleased me at home since so we take our chance here. My juveniles tend to come on a good deal for their first run and I hope that is the case again here, as he will need to improve a fair deal to be winning this. But he is a horse I rate, and his slick jumping will stand him in good stead. Has done plenty of schooling ...

Clive and I have given Kauto Star the green light for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a very good schooling session on the grass this morning. Ruby came over to school him and Kauto was awesome, just as I'd thought he would be. He jumped six fences - the plain fence and the open ditch three times each - and he was foot perfect and looked magnificent. I have just put the phone down to Clive and, barring any mishaps in the next few days, Kauto lines up for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Friday. We are looking forward to it. [b]For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/[/b]

Very little to report on the Kauto front today, but I said I would give a daily update, so here goes. Kauto Star enjoyed his usual morning preparation yesterday before having two canters up the hill with Big Buck's and he continues to please us and head in the right direction. So we look forward to his racecourse gallop at Wincanton today. I will give you an update in my column immediately after the work. We have had a very busy morning here yesterday, schooling on the grass. Zarkandar went with Pearl Swan, and both looked particularly sharp. Brampour schooled with Prospect Wells, and Ulck Du Lin worked with Sonofvic. [b]For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/[/b]

Nothing major to report today but we are, thankfully, still heading in the right direction. Kauto once again had his physio and his hour on the walker. And then he had a half-speed 10f canter with Big Buck's and then a canter up the hill with him, too. In fact, all my Cheltenham horses did the same routine - so Kauto did everything the other Festival horses did today. Clifford is still smiling and at one point I thought he was going to do Kauto's box roll for him! [b]For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/[/b]

We upped Kauto Star's work again today. He had his now regular morning physio and an hour on the walker - we should bring out an exercise video, as that routine is getting so much publicity - and then we gave him his most testing workout since his schooling fall. We gave him two strong canters up the hill alongside my Fred Winter hopeful Ulck Du Lin. And again I have to report that he came through it fine and I'm happy with him at the moment. What particularly pleased me that, aside from looking great, he came back from the work and had a good roll in his box, always a good sign with him. He looks happy in himself and Clifford is smiling. But we have had a change of plan over the so-called 'D Day' home gallop on Saturday. He will now gallop after racing at Wincanton on...

For those of you who like to back ante-post, I will run you through my entries in the novice chases at the Festival, and the National Hunt Chase. I have five entries in the Arkle, for which Al Ferof, Timeform's leading novice chaser at any distance this season, is obviously my number one hope after his excellent third at Ascot last Saturday. He goes straight to the Festival. Thursday's Warwick winner Pacha Du Polder is a very unlikely runner and wants a trip. He is also entered in the Jewson, but it could be that we give Cheltenham a swerve with him this year. Sanctuaire probably makes his chasing debut at either Taunton or Ludlow next week. I was toying with running Escort'men in the Lightning at Doncaster on Saturday but decided against it; I refuse to believe this talented hurdler...

You would have thought after 30 races and 19 victories for us - among them five King Georges, four Betfair Chases and two Gold Cups - that I would have seen it all with Kauto Star. But the horse continues to astound me. He came out of his box this morning, even with the temperature at -1, with a real spring in his step and I can tell you now that I have never seen the horse look better. Never. He looked superb in his coat and if you thought he looked in great condition in the paddock at Kempton on Boxing Day, then you really should have been here this morning. He looked magnificent. He has come out of the race unbelievably well, has put on weight after Kempton, and Clifford can't believe how fresh he is. In truth, we would have liked to have done a little less with him, but he ...

Here are my views on our quartet of runners in the Gold Cup today: [b]Denman:[/b] Rain would certainly be a great help to Denman's chances. He is a horse the public have really taken to because he is a trier, a fighter and a bruiser; the Marvin Hagler to Kauto Star's Sugar Ray Leonard. Has had his problems since his finest hour - a 7 length defeat of Kauto in this race in 2008 - but has continued to turn in some devastatingly good performances since, notably when winning the 2009 Hennessy. And you would have thought he had won that race for the third time this season to judge from the reception he got coming in after finishing third to Diamond Harry at Newbury. Although he was eventually beaten over 15 lengths there, he was giving lumps of weight away to the youngsters Diamond Harry ...

A host of big names at Paul's Ditcheat yard are beginning preparations in earnest for two of the most valuable Cheltenham Festival races, so which horses are shaping up the best? Read Paul's verdict here Obviously, we have some of our Gold Cup and Champion Chase hopefuls running this weekend and next. So let's hope [b]What A Friend[/b] furthers his Cheltenham claims. But I thought it would be useful to give you a brief update on my other probable runners in those races. [b]Kauto Star[/b] has been kept ticking over since Kempton, but he starts really strong work on Monday. He has been cantering every day, and is in tip-top form. We will also start stoking work into [b]Denman[/b]; he is in really good form and is exactly where we want him. [b]Neptune Collonges[/b] is over his...