Kauto Star Delights Nicholls

Paul Nicholls is delighted with Kauto Star as he prepares for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup at Prestbury Park next month.

The only horse ever to regain the crown after adding success in 2009 to his first two years earlier, Clive Smith's gelding has been in irresistible form this term, defeating 2011 hero Long Run in both the Betfair Chase and King George VI Chase.

Kauto Star has been unaffected by the recent coughing outbreak among some horses at trainer Paul Nicholls' stables, and delighted connections in his latest workout.

"He's in good form," said Nicholls.

"Clifford (Baker) worked him on Saturday morning and we've got three weeks to get him in tip-top form."

His half-brother Kauto Stone is also on target for Cheltenham with the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase rather than the Ryanair Chase looking the more likely option after he ran too free in the Ascot Chase last time.

"He's in the Ryanair and the Champion Chase and we've got to make a decision," the Ditcheat trainer said.

"If he ran in the Ryanair the way he did at Ascot he won't get home so we might look at the Champion Chase."

Nicholls is unlikely to pitch Dodging Bullets into the JCB Triumph Hurdle, even though he ran ante-post favourite Grumeti to a length and a half in the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle on his debut over jumps at Kempton on Saturday.

"He ran a great race. I'll probably go to Aintree with him. He's a bit green and inexperienced to be going to the Triumph," he said.

Long Run Shows Form at Newbury

Long Run prepared for his defence of the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month with victory in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

Trainer Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old, ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen, was pushed to the finish by Burton Port, with What a Friend coming home third.

"He jumped really well," said winning jockey Waley-Cohen.

"He felt like different horse. He was more up for it. We learned how to set him up for a fence when you get him going quicker."

“That is exactly the confidence boost you want to go to the Gold Cup with”Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen

Long Run started as the 4-7 favourite and played a patient game as The Giant Bolster led the running for much of the race.

Henderson's top chaser then hit the front and seemed set to pull away after jumping the final fence, but stablemate Burton Port's late surge meant the Gold Cup favourite's margin of victory was only half a length.

Waley-Cohen added: "I was really pleased with his jumping. He was a little careless with the water [jump], but apart from that he's jumped really well. You couldn't ask for more from a seasoned chaser.

"That is exactly the confidence boost you want to go to the Gold Cup with."

The Cheltenham Festival runs from 13-16 March with the big race run on the final day.

Meanwhile, Ruby Walsh rode the 7-4 favourite Zarkandar to a thrilling win in the Betfair Hurdle , which like the Denman Chase was rescheduled after last Saturday's meeting was abandoned because of snow.

The 20-strong field were bunched together until the final few fences, before the pace increased with two to go.

Zarkandar, trained by Paul Nicholls, did not make his move until the final few strides when he found a small gap before claiming victory by a length and a quarter from Get Me Out Of Here and Raya Star.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy took a heavy fall at the second-last fence while well placed with Darlan, but walked away after receiving treatment on the course.

McCoy Opts for Darlan

Tony McCoy will ride Darlan in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle for which there are 22 declared runners with Sailors Warn and Ozare the only absentees.

The champion jockey had the option to partner previous winner Get Me Out Of Here (Richie McLernon) but has opted for Nicky Henderson's exciting novice, who is second favourite behind Zarkandar.

The master of Seven Barrows has also declared Soldatino (Barry Geraghty) and Erricht (Andrew Tinkler).

Paul Nicholls, trainer of the favourite, also runs Brampour (Harry Derham) and Empire Levant (Darly Jacob) with Ruby Walsh taking the ride aboard Zarkandar.

Richard Johnson has been booked to partner County Hurdle winner Final Approach for Willie Mullins, with Raya Star, Sire De Grugy and Olofi others towards the head of the market.

Walsh Ban Offers Hennessy Chance

Ruby Walsh lost his appeal against a three-day ban incurred for careless riding at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He was found guilty of interference when partnering Pearl Swan to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial.

While his mount beat Grumeti by a short head, the two horses got very close in the finish and the stewards opted to reverse the places and ban Walsh.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) dismissed his appeal at a hearing on Thursday.

Walsh will noe miss out on riding Zarkandar, last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on 11 February.

He had said before the ban: "You'd never be optimistic [of getting it overturned], but I didn't think it warranted a three-day ban.

"It was very minimal interference and a very minimal offence, if I'm guilty of an offence."

Nicky Lander from the BHA said on Thursday: "I can confirm that Ruby Walsh's appeal against his three-day ban has been dismissed."

The BHA later tweeted that Walsh had successfully requested to defer the second day of his suspension, 12 February, due to there being Grade One action in Ireland.

He will now be free to ride at the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup meeting at Leopardstown and is banned on February 11, 13 and 14.

Walsh left London immediately to catch a flight back to Ireland where he was booked to ride last year's Grand National sixth The Midnight Club at Clonmel later on Thursday.

He tweeted: "Lost appeal but made flight hopefully the midnight club can bring some good out of the day!"