Turko set for Ryanair

Hennessy runner-up Turko is likely to lead Paul Nicholls´ bid to retain his stranglehold on the Ryanair Chase.

The champion trainer has taken the event in two of the three years since its inception but has only the Andy Stewart-owned gelding and his fellow grey Sporazene still entered.

Turko was only beaten by The Listener at Leopardstown despite initial fears from his handler.

"I thought he might not get the trip that day but he ran really well," said Nicholls.

"He´s in the Gold Cup but will almost certainly go for the Ryanair as two miles and five round there will suit him really well."

Nicholls has more than enough of a hand in the Gold Cup with Kauto Star and Denman but had news of several of his other entries at a press morning on Wednesday.

"Star De Mohaison has had a few problems before he ran quite nicely on his comeback over hurdles," he continued.

"He´s had a few more niggles since. He looks fabulous now and if we are happy with him, he will go to the Gold Cup and if not he´ll go to Aintree.

"Neptune Collonges put in probably a career best at Wincanton the other day and his handicap mark would probably not put him too far behind Denman and Kauto Star.

"He goes to the Gold Cup. I think he´s probably better on a flatter track and can still go on to Aintree and possibly Punchestown."

Nicholls ran the rule over many of his 30-odd Cheltenham Festival possibilities.

On the recommendation of rider Ruby Walsh, Five Dream will be entered in the Coral Cup, while plans are still being finalised for many of the novice hurdlers and chasers.

Nicholls added a note of caution about one of them, the classy Rippling Ring.

"He won cosily on his debut at Doncaster, but because he is South African, he has just come into his winter coat when the others are in their summer coats," he said.

"We´ve clipped him and hopefully he will start to improve shortly."

Nicholls also expects to have just the one runner in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the impressive Chepstow scorer Mahonia.