What's on this week: Gold Cup, Ryanair and Champion Chase fields continue to take shape before Sir Gino returns

Monday

The Goffer and Vanillier are among the big names in action at Punchestown, where they line up in the track's opening cross-country race (1.00) against last year's winner Coko Beach. 

The afternoon fixture is concluded with the unique stable staff race (4.40) over two miles, in which triple Grade 1 winner Sir Gerhard is among the runners. 

Willie Mullins is also in action at Carlisle, where he sends the unbeaten More Coko to the 2m1f novice hurdle (1.20).

Jongleur D'Etoiles seeks a hat-trick in the 3m½f handicap hurdle (4.20) at Southwell, while all-weather action at Wolverhampton rounds off the day. 

The card kicks off with a promising 1m1½f novice stakes (4.27), which features newcomers for Godolphin, Shadwell and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. 

Tuesday 

The Cheltenham Festival fields continue to take shape with the latest acceptors stage for the Gold Cup, Ryanair and Champion Chase revealed at noon. Entries are also released for the Eider and Ladbrokes Trophy in two weeks' time as well as the weights for next weekend's Grand National Trial. 

Back on the track, Isaac Des Obeaux sets the standard in Taunton's 2m7f handicap chase (2.25) for Paul Nicholls, who is seeking to improve his 25 per cent strike-rate at the track this season. 

Nicholls also fields a promising type at Market Rasen in the 2m4½f novice hurdle (1.40) with Belliano, who was runner-up behind The New Lion on his hurdling debut in October and has since won well at Ascot. 

William Dewhirst is unbeaten in all three starts this year and seeks a four-timer at Newcastle, where he takes on eight rivals in the sprint handicap (7.00).

William Dewhirst: could claim a four-timer on TuesdayCredit: John Grossick

Wednesday 

Classy chasers Fil Dor, Three Card Brag and Minella Crooner are entered in the 3m½f rated chase (2.25) at Fairyhouse, one of three jumps fixtures taking place on Wednesday. 

At Ludlow, Superbolt could seek to continue his impressive season in the 2m4f handicap chase (3.45), having won twice and finished second three times since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies's yard in September, while Tom Creen could return to Sedgefield in a bid to follow up his win there last month in the 2m½f handicap chase (3.05).

A 2m handicap (7.30) is the feature event at Kempton on Wednesday evening, with last-time-out winners Alrazeen and Wonder Legend among the entries. 

Thursday

Gavin Cromwell could return to Huntingdon to defend his title in the Listed Lady Protectress Mares' Chase (2.55), with Brides Hill and La Malmason entered to follow up Jeremys Flame's win 12 months ago. 

The track also stages the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle (2.20), which was won last year by Saturday's Grade 1 winner Handstands. Hat-trick-seekers Starcrossed Lover, Julius Des Pictons and Jax Junior are among the entries. 

Shanagh Bob: reverts to hurdles after an unsuccessful chasing spreeCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Graded winner Shanagh Bob could make a welcome return to hurdles at Doncaster against a potentially smart field in the 2m3½f handicap (2.45), while more jump racing takes place at Ffos Las. 

The well-bred Kaiser Ball could be an interesting prospect at Thurles in the concluding 1m7½f bumper (4.55), while there's an all-weather evening card at Southwell.

Friday 

Two unbeaten chasers from the yard of Nicky Henderson are entered in the 3m novice handicap chase (2.50) at Kempton, with Ideal Des Bordes and De Tellers Fortune both successful on their debuts over fences this season. 

The North Wales National (2.12) is the pick of the action at Bangor, where last year's winning trainer Henry Daly has entered Rockinastorm this time round. 

Maljoom could gun for Listed glory at Lingfield in the BetMGM Tandridge Stakes (2.32) and the all-weather action is completed with an evening cards at Dundalk and Southwell, where the unbeaten Rebel's Gamble is an interesting prospect in the feature 6f handicap (7.15).

Saturday

Newbury's Graded card should attract some smart horses with the popular Denman Chase (2.25) worth £85,000. Shishkin, Eldorado Allen, Native River and Coneygree are among some of the high-profile names to be on the winning roster of the Grade 2 event over the last ten years.

The track also stages the William Hill Game Spirit Chase (3.00), with a similar prize-money fund, and the even more lucrative William Hill Handicap Hurdle (3.35), for which the striking Winter Millions winner Secret Squirrel heads the market. 

Sir Gino: could run in the Game Spirit Chase on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sir Gino could be the big name on Saturday, with a primary target of the Game Spirit Chase, but Nicky Henderson is resolved to use the FGD Kingmaker Novices' Chase (1.30) at Warwick as a back-up option for the Arkle favourite. Henderson has used this race as Cheltenham prep before, with Jonbon winning it in 2023. 

Jump racing also takes place at Uttoxeter and Naas, which stages the Listed Opera Hat Mares Chase (3.40), alongside Flat cards at Wolverhampton and Newcastle.

Sunday

Ireland stages some Graded races of its own at Navan, with the Boyne Hurdle (2.40) and the Ten Up Novice Chase (3.45) on its Sunday card. 

Exeter hosts two Listed races for novice mare chasers (2.00) and novice hurdles (2.30), while Chepstow completes the week's racing with an afternoon jumps card.

Read more . . .

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'There aren't many who can do that' - Willie Mullins wowed by Kopek Des Bordes as he is slashed to 7-4 Supreme favourite 

Willie Mullins 'never lost faith' in Ballyburn as top prospect cut to 15-8 favourite for Brown Advisory after Grade 1 win 

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