Banbridge battles on best of all to land a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Banbridge battles on best of all to land a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Dan Skelton is relishing the chance to reach the “pinnacle of our sport” when his Betfair Chase hero Protektorat attempts to prove the doubters wrong in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Wise old heads used to whisper “they never come back” when a horse had seemingly lost its way, but Nicky Henderson is waging a one-man mission to consign the phrase to the history books as Shishkin became the latest Seven Barrows inmate to return to the top.

Officials at Ascot have admitted the change in forecast “may present some challenges” in being able to stage Saturday’s card – which is headlined by the LK Bennett Clarence House Chase.