The debate over Kauto Star's fine form this season against Denman's lack of condition at Newbury dominates the Gold Cup this season - Graham Richards surveys the form of the leading contenders.

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Willie Mullins is hopeful that Blackstairmountain, and impressive winner at Punchestown in January, can give Dunguib a race in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Mullins told At The Races: "He has lots of gears and while he's a bit inexperienced over hurdles he's not inexperienced as a racehorse as he's run in five bumpers and twice on the Flat. I've had him away schooling a couple of times and he hasn't put a foot wrong. I know it will be a fast-and-furious race and we are taking a bit of a chance, but we have to do that. If my fellow jumps well enough I think he has a great chance."

Trainer Nicky Henderson on Monday described his star novice chasers Long Run and Punchestowns as the best horses he has handled in a training career spanning nearly 32 years.

The duo are set to lock horns in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday, March 17, with stable jockey Barry Geraghty partnering Punchestowns and amateur Sam Waley-Cohen due to ride Long Run, who is owned by the rider’s father Robert.

“Long Run and Punchestowns are two horses that could go the whole way. They’re quite special,” said Henderson. “They are the best that I’ve had and my duty is to keep them in one piece to get where they need to be in two years (for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup). Luckily there is no clash with jockeys.”

Travelling to Canada, Ian Carnaby was spared a double dose of pain when Southampton and Ronaldo Des Mottes got beaten. He is now wondering from afar whether he has found his Cheltenham banker.

Aon Chase faller Denman won't be wearing blinkers in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with trainer Paul Nicholls telling The Times: "I know people say we did it with See More Business when he won the Gold Cup but he'd been jumping badly and had just become naughty.

"Denman made a mistake last week but he's generally a brilliant jumper. We'll consider a sheepskin noseband but nothing more."

Newbury and Warwick last weekend provided more clues for Cheltenham, and plenty of pointers for the Grand National. Form analyst Graham Richards takes a detailed look back.

Former Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition could run in the World Hurdle in addition to the Grand National, which was his sole intended target this spring, after making all to win the Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

Trainer Mouse Morris said: "That was a good performance and we'll see how he comes out of this before making a decision on his next race. It's his last season and I wouldn't have thought that win will affect his National weight.

"The World Hurdle looks a bit of a one-horse race and the favourite is a bit like us in the way that he lost his way over fences. We'll leave all options open, though. That was not his ideal trip, but he showed his class. He might even run in both, why not?"

There were Cheltenham clues in abundance last weekend, with quality racing at Sandown, Doncaster, Wetherby, Leopardstown and Musselburgh. Graham Richards analyses the form to find horses to follow and avoid come the Festival.

A modest handicap hurdle at Wincanton franked the form of a David Pipe runner in Saturday's Totesport Trophy. Ian Carnaby looks back at a race dominated in its early years by Captain Ryan Price.

Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup winner Joncol is only 50-50 to run at the Cheltenham Festival, and would have the Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup as his target, with trainer Paul Nolan saying: "Cheltenham is at the back of my mind and he is only 50-50 to run there. If he does go it will be for the Ryanair and I have no regrets not entering him for the Gold Cup with Kauto Star and Denman being in there. If the ground stays right I'd love to run him in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown."

Big Zeb has been cut to 5-1 for the Champion Chase after his dominant win in the Grade Two Punchestown Pavilion Tied Cottage Chase on Sunday. A delighted Colm Murphy said after the race: "I'm delighted with that performance. He's had his problems in the past but I think we've ironed them out now. We'll freshen him up and then it's on to Cheltenham, it's nice to be going over there on the back of that."

In the open at Ascot, Call Me A Legend won well for Alan King. Subsequent results over the past couple of days confirm the stable is back firing again. Advisor won the Juvenile Hurdle well enough. He jumps well and finished the race with his ears pricked. The times suggest the ground was good to soft and he is clearly effective when the word “soft” is in the description.

Alan King was delighted with the way Medermit won the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial on Saturday, telling his website www.alankingracing.co.uk: "Medermit must go to Cheltenham with a good each-way shout after that performance.

"I was honestly worried about the ground but while I remain convinced that he does not want it that soft, 'Choc' thought that he actually enjoyed it.

"He certainly handled it well enough and I think we can get him better still, but it will be straight to Cheltenham now.

Nicky Henderson is unlikely to send Champion Hurdle hope Zaynar to the Irish Champion Hurdle, with the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on 18 February entering the equation. Henderson told the Racing Post: “As we’re not inclined to supplement Zaynar for Ireland, he may well go to Kelso, though nothing concrete has been decided at this stage.

“We’d rather go to Haydock on Saturday with Punjabi. What’s the point in going to Ireland if we can run in England? Haydock should suit him, and he has won in soft ground.”

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The big freeze has its lighter moments, says Ian Carnaby, with Milton Bradley's Brazilian Brush cheering one of his friends, and the the temptation to risk a grand on racing at the previously unheard of Neuss.

David Pipe's 11-year-old two mile chaser Well Chief is doing well ahead of the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot a week on Saturday. Pipe told At The Races: "He's very well and ran nicely at Kempton last time. He is slightly better going left-handed but it's a valuable race and I wouldn't have thought there'll be too many runners."

Champion Bumper

Some early names worth consideration and to look out for. Thomas Mullins trains Tavern Times and Dr Whizz; both have already won, suggesting they might be useful. Noel Meade hit the scoreboard with Monastrell and Perfect Smile. He has another likely type in the shape of Realt Mor waiting in the wings. Willie Mullins has a good mare called Killultagh Queen. She won at Fairyhouse in good style.

The impressive Feltham Novices' Chase winner Long Run is likely to run in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown next month.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen told PA Sport: "We obviously knew going to Kempton he was a very good horse. Any horse who has won two Grade One races in France is certainly no mug.

"His work was very good when he was with Guillame Macaire and Nicky had been delighted with him as well. He seems to find it all very straightforward.

"His jumping will sharpen up as he gains more experience of jumping British fences and Sam (Waley-Cohen, jockey) also thought he would be better when there is a bit more pace.

Trainer Jim Dreaper is hopeful that his high class staying chaser Notre Pere can get his season on track in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown next Monday.

Of the eight-year-old's disappointing run in the Betfair Chase Dreaper told PA Sport: "We think he's fine and we didn't find anything wrong in the veterinary department after his run at Haydock. We just think he was feeling the effects of a heavy fall at Down Royal but we have taken him away for a racecourse school and everything has gone nicely.