Nicholls in nap hand for trip to Doncaster

He is one of five entries from the yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls who won the race 12 months ago with the progressive Big Fella Thanks.

Nicholls's other entries include the 2007 Grade One James Nicholson Wine Merchants Champion Chase victor Taranis, who has been off the course for over two years, the 2008 Rowland Meyrick Chase victor Nozic, Tatanen and Kicks For Free

David Pipe has entered Seven Is My Number, fresh from a Grade Two success at Cheltenham, and Sky Bet has installed the exciting novice as

7-1 joint-favourite. Also entered among an interesting Pond House Stables sextet are the top-class veteran Our Vic and fellow Grade One winner Tamarinbleu.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Duc De Regniere, the other 7-1 joint-favourite, easily landed a Kempton graduation chase in November and finished runner-up to Big Buck's in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury later that month.

He is one of five entries from Seven Barrows, as are the hat-trick seeking Strawberry and 2005 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Trabolgan.

As revealed in yesterday's Yorkshire Post, the John Quinn-trained Character Building heads the Yorkshire entries while According To Pete and Brooklyn Brownie may line up for trainer Malcolm Jefferson.

Ferdy Murphy's New Alco is entered while Sue Smith's entries included Auroras Encore and Kilkenny All Star, the latter owned by The McGoldrick Partnership.

This syndicate takes it name from the prodigious feats of the 13-year-old veteran Mister McGoldrick who defied his age to finish a hugely creditable third at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, support is growing for an award to honour longstanding horses who have been such loyal servants to the sport.

In addition to the honours for the star horses of each campaign, dominated last year by Sea The Stars and Kauto Star, a lifetime achievement category could be set up for all-stagers like the Wetherby course specialist.

Mister McGoldrick's owner Richard Longley, who runs the Partnership, certainly concurs.

"We know, in his long career, Mister McGoldrick has fallen just that bit short of top class, but nevertheless he has performed with great distinction at the highest level," said Longley, who lives in Leeds.

"He's also given many, many thousands of people an enormous amount of pleasure watching him race in the sport we all love."

After becoming the first horse ever to regain chasing's bue riband last season, Kauto Star will bid to emulate Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate with a third victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A total of 27 horses have been entered for the March showpiece – the smallest number in recent times.

However it compares favourably with the level of entries in 1964, 1965 and 1966 – 14, 13 and 18 respectively – when Arkle won his three Gold Cups. The chief rival to the Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old appears to be stable-companion Denman,

With the Irish Independent Arkle likely to be one of the most competitive races at the Cheltenham Festival this year, Ferdy Murphy believes 40-1 shot Bedlam Boy could spring a surprise.

Unbeaten in two starts this season, Murphy sees clear parallels between him and stable star Kalahari King, who was an unlucky runner-up in last year's renewal.

"He's very, very well. It looks a really hot Arkle this year with others much higher rated than him but we were in the same boat with Kalahari King last year as he was forgotten until just before the Festival," said the West Witton handler.

"Bedlam Boy hasn't beaten a lot but has never come off the bridle and the way he has applied himself to his races has been very professional."