Eight Sizes in Queen Mother Chase

Last year's winner Sizing Europe heads a quality field of eight declared for Wednesday's sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Henry de Bromhead's 10-year-old is likely to be a warm order to repeat his win of 12 months ago when he defeated the previous year's winner Big Zeb.

The latter will try to regain his title, but was beaten 15 lengths by Sizing Europe in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown last month.

However, Colm Murphy is expecting a better performance from Big Zeb this time.

There is a third Irish challenger in the shape of the Noel Meade-trained Realt Dubh, who was third in last year's Arkle.

Heading the home brigade is the Nicky Henderson-trained Finian's Rainbow, runner-up in last year's Arkle. 

Completing the line-up are Gauvain, I'm So Lucky, Kauto Stone and Wishfull Thinking.

The two withdrawals at the 48-hour final declaration stage were Somersby and Blazing Tempo, who both hold entries in Thursday's Ryanair Chase.

All Gold for Kauto Star

Kauto Star will bid for a third Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup victory after delighting connections in an "awesome" schooling session at his Ditcheat base.

The 12-year-old was feared a doubtful starter in Friday's showpiece event when it emerged he had suffered a schooling fall at trainer Paul Nicholls' yard earlier this month.

Nicholls was concerned about his condition after the tumble but after making massive strides in his recovery, Kauto Star was back on top form when enjoying a racecourse gallop at Wincanton on Friday.

Connections were keen to see how he fared in another schooling session before confirming his participation, but after pleasing Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh, Kauto Star will try to add to his Cheltenham wins in 2007 and 2009.

Nicholls said: "Clive (Smith, owner) 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."

Mullins Runs Novice Boston Bob

Willie Mullins has decided to run the exciting Boston Bob in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Graham Wylie-owned gelding also holds an entry in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle over a shorter distance on Wednesday but it has been decided to go for the three-mile race on Friday.

Boston Bob was vying for favouritism in both races and is now a short price for success in the Albert Bartlett thanks to winning all his three hurdle races so far in commanding fashion.

"Boston Bob will be kept to the end of the week for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle," said Mullins.

"I was talking to Mr Wylie this morning and that is what I said and he is happy enough to do that."

Mullins added he would be represented in the Neptune by Make Your Mark, who was third to Boston Bob at Leopardstown last time, and Sous Les Cieux.

And he is likely to have three runners in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Midnight Game, Simenon and Allure of Illusion.

Mullins also outlined plans for Thursday's Ladbrokes World Hurdle, saying: "In the World Hurdle I will have four runners - Mourad, Mikael d'Haguenet, So Young and Thousand Stars."

Monday Decision for Kauto Star

Kauto Star has come through a racecourse gallop at Wincanton to suggest the two-time Gold Cup winner will be fit for Cheltenham next week.

It was feared the 12-year-old would miss the Gold Cup on 16 March after a fall but he has recovered rapidly.

Kauto Star was put through his paces for two miles by regular jockey Ruby Walsh and raced alongside Mon Parrain.

He will now go through a jumping session on Monday before trainer Paul Nicholls makes a final decision.

Before Friday's gallop, Nicholls had told BBC Radio 5 live: "There's huge improvement.

"This time last week I was resigned to the fact he wasn't going to run, but now it is good signs. We're going the right way very quickly. "

Last week Nicholls said Kauto Star was only "50-50" to compete in the race after falling at the stable yard.

Nicholls added: "I just said to Clifford [Baker, the stable's work rider], 'you told me last Wednesday it was 50-50 - how would you put it now?' and he told me, 'nearly 100%'.

"He did normal work today with Big Buck's [another horse from the Nicholls stable] with no ill effects, I'd be surprised if he doesn't work really well tomorrow.

"This sort of injury always goes quickly. It wasn't anything more serious than bruising and he's going the right way."

Kauto Star has become an iconic jump racing figure in a record-breaking career which included an unprecedented fifth King George VI Chase in six years at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Gold Cup was expected to provide a much-anticipated showdown between the veteran and defending champion Long Run, who is five years his junior.

Since his fall when schooling over small obstacles on 26 February, Kauto Star has been having physiotherapy and an hour's exercise on a horse walker every day.

Nicholls said Kauto Star took "a pretty awful fall" when he broke the news six days after his tumble.