What they say: 'The Arkle's a good option and he'll improve in the spring'

Patrick Mullins, assistant to Willie Mullins, trainer of Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo, El Fabiolo, Flame Bearer, Ha D'or, James Du Berlais, Saint Roi and Sir Gerhard
We're very happy with Sir Gerhard at the moment. He's back doing full work and we're hoping to find somewhere to run him in the next couple of weeks. We've got all the bases covered with entries and we'll just have to see how the cards fall. We're much happier with him now than we were at any stage this season. We do have a really good crop of novice chasers and we'll know more about them after the Dublin Racing Festival. The Dublin Racing Festival is the main thing on our minds at the moment.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Banbridge
The plan for him is to go to the Dublin Racing Festival and we'll look further afield from there but the Arkle is an option. At the moment, we're not looking too far past the Dublin Racing Festival and we'll see after that.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Bass Rock
Although the Turners might be the likelier race for him, the Arkle could cut up so the owner thought we should put him in. I was pleased enough with his run at Wetherby, where he couldn't jump out of the ground and could have done with a stronger pace. He'll run either at Cheltenham in a novice handicap on January 28 or at Musselburgh on February 4.