Nicky Henderson's Champ is odds-on of five entries for Saturday's Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle, one of the key contests on Cheltenham's Festival Trials day.

Nicky Henderson's 10 year-old claimed Grade 1 success in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last month and is among the leading players for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival in March, despite also holding a Cheltenham Gold Cup entry.

His Seven Barrows handler has indicated the 10-year-old is likely to go forthe hurdles route and he can further underline his claims with victory in this Grade 2 heat.
Paul Nicholls' McFabulous looks to be one of his chief rivals, along with former Stayers' Hurdle winner Paisley Park and Lisnagar Oscar, with Fergal O'Brien's Dandy Mag completing the field.

On what could be an important afternoon for Henderson, Chantry House is going for the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase after failing in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

The eight-year-old was sent off favourite for the Christmas feature but never travelled and was eventually pulled up by Nico de Boinville.

Five also go to post in this Grade 2 chase, with Harriet Graham sending the hardy Aye Right, while Nicholls has entered Simply The Betts. Polly Gundry's former Henderson runner Santini and outsider Kauto Riko make up the party.

Henderson will assess Balco Coastal's Festival credentials as he lines up in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

A winner at Huntingdon, Balco Coastal faces a stiff challenge in taking on Henry Daly's Cheltenham Listed winner Hillcrest and A Different Kind, who is on a phenomenal five-win run for Donald McCain.

Nicholls' Iceo made a splash on his British bow at Kempton, prevailing by 17 lengths, and is the big draw in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, which also features Gordon Elliott's Pied Piper among eight declarations.