Cheltenham countdown - news digest

Gold Cup favourite wins trial in style

Reigning Gold cup winner Kauto Star (Village Star(6.3f) - Kauto Relka, by Port Etienne) was sent off the 4-11 favourite for the Grade One Ascot Chase over 2m 5.5f on Saturday and he landed the odds in some style and goes to Cheltenham to defend his crown as a worthy favourite.

Fair Along set a good pace in front with Kauto Star loping along easily under Ruby Walsh in third spot, tracked by his market rival Monet's Garden and Racing Demon. They took closer order up the side of the course, and Kauto Star jumped to the lead at the third last, seeing off all possible challenges in a matter of strides. He went further clear as he flew the final two fences, accounting for Monet's Garden by eight lengths. Racing Demon closed fast for third, only a neck down.

After the race, trainer Paul Nicholls told the BBC: "I wanted him ridden positively. There's no point dropping him out the door and riding him negative. I said to Ruby this morning that I wanted him third or fourth and just track through. That's the way to ride him and he jumped great.

"I think he's as well as he's ever been. He looks great we've left plenty to work on again but he was probably a lot fitter than Denman was as he's that type of horse. We just have a month now to keep him spot on. You can see from today's performance he'll be very hard to beat."

Albertas Run sees off Air Force One in Reynoldstown

Seven-year-old Albertas Run (Accordion - Holly Grove Lass, by Le Moss) won the three mile Grade Two Reynoldstown Chase under Ruby Walsh, jumping well and running on strongly past long-time leader Battle Cry and seeing off the well-regarded Air Force One in the straight to win by a length and a half. Joe Lively disappointed in fifth.

Albertas Run is trained by Jonjo O'Neill, who has had a few winners in the last week, and was a useful staying hurlder last term before taking to fences with a victory at Towcester. He found Tidal Bay too good at Aintree but won again at Cheltenham in November.