Confirmed runners and riders for the Cotswold Chase and Cleeve Hurdle

Chantry House will sport cheekpieces for the first time in Saturday's Cotswold Chase (2.30) but does not take on talented novice Ahoy Senor in the Grade 2 event.

Ahoy Senor had the option of entering open company at the weekend but instead is likely to contest the Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby on Saturday week.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Chantry House landed the Grade 1 Marsh and Mildmay novice chases last season and returned with a win in a two-runner Listed intermediate chase at Sandown in November.

Cheltenham card on Saturday

He failed to fire when favourite for the King George VI Chase at Kempton last month and was pulled up by Nico de Boinville after the 12th fence.

Chantry House faces four rivals in his bid to get back on the Gold Cup trail, including Rehearsal Chase scorer Aye Right and former festival winner Simply The Betts. 2020 Gold Cup second Santini, now trained by Polly Gundry, and Kauto Riko complete the field for the Paddy Power-sponsored race.

Chantry House is a general 16-1 shot to win the Gold Cup, the second shortest-priced contender for Britain behind 10-1 chance Protektorat.

There have been six runners in the last three editions, including when Santini was successful in 2020, with five runners last contesting the race in 2011.

Champ: runs in the Cleeve Hurdle on SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Chantry House's stablemate Champ similarly faces four rivals in the Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle (3.05), including two Stayers' Hurdle winners in Paisley Park and Lisnagar Oscar.

McFabulous and Dandy Mag complete the field, with Champ priced at 7-2 to land the Stayers' Hurdle in March. The last time there were only five runners in the Cleeve Hurdle was 1998.

Henry Daly has opted to run exciting novice hurdler Hillcrest at Cheltenham rather than in the River Don at Doncaster. The course-and-distance winner features in a field of six for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (3.40).

Pied Piper, a leading Triumph Hurdle fancy, contests the trial for the race earlier on the card (12.45) with Davy Russell aboard the Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old.

Doncaster card on Saturday

At Doncaster, Arkle hopes Third Time Lucki, For Pleasure and Do Your Job clash in a three-runner Lightning Novices’ Chase, a race won by Shishkin last year.

The Lightning is one of three Grade 2 events on the Town Moor card, while there are 17 declarations for the Listed Sky Bet Handicap Chase, including ante-post favourite Fusil Raffles and Ladbrokes Trophy winner Cloudy Glen.

Cotswold Chase runners and riders

Aye RightCallum Bewley
Chantry HouseNico de Boinville
Kauto RikoBrian Hughes
SantiniNick Scholfield
Simply The BettsHarry Cobden

Cleeve Hurdle runners and riders

ChampJonjo O'Neill Jr
McFabulousHarry Cobden
Paisley ParkAidan Coleman
Dandy MagPaddy Brennan
Lisnagar OscarAdam Wedge

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