Aintree rematch? Knight Salute and Pied Piper among Cheltenham Saturday entries

Knight Salute and Pied Piper, the two horses who fought out a dramatic finish to a Grade 1 at Aintree in April, could renew their rivalry at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The final result of the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle was determined only in May after an appeal from the owners of Pied Piper against his controversial demotion at Aintree was dismissed by a disciplinary panel. A dead-heat had been initially called but the stewards' at Aintree demoted Pied Piper after deciding he had caused interference to Knight Salute at the final flight.

With that score belatedly settled, the two talented four-year-olds could take each other on again in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2.40) after both appeared among nine entries alongside Grade 1 winner Porticello.

Cheltenham Festival winner Coole Cody – who has options at the track on Friday – is among 32 entries for the Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier (3.50), as is 2020 Stayers' Hurdle second Ronald Pump.

Definite Plan, Before Midnight, Kansas City Chief and Does He Know, four winners on the card 12 months ago, are all entered.

Although the return of racing at Cheltenham is a big pull on Saturday, there will still be Group 1 action on the Flat in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (3.35) at Doncaster.

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for eight of the 17 runners still in contention, with his pack including warm ante-post favourite Auguste Rodin, Victoria Road and Salt Lake City.

John and Thady Gosden could be represented by Attest and Epictetus, while National Stakes second Proud And Regal and the Andrew Balding-trained Stormbuster are other towards the front of the market.

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