ALL the chat at the minute is about the Cheltenham Festival and Smad Place booked his place for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup when winning last Saturday's BetBright Trial Chase at Cheltenham.

Alan King, who trains Smad Place for Peter Andrews, would not commit to the Gold Cup immediately after the nine-year-old's win at Prestbury Park as he left the door open for a run in the Ryanair Chase.

However, the trainer has since confirmed that the Gold Cup, for which Smad Place is 16-1 with Coral and Betfair's sportsbook, was the target.

Speaking on Monday, he said: "I think it was decided last night that he will run in the Gold Cup, so that'll put everyone's mind at rest.

"I spoke to Peter Andrews last night and again this morning and, if the horse is fit and well, he'll run in the Gold Cup. I think we'd be riding him pretty handy."

Smad Place was also handy when winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, but flopped in Kempton's King George VI Chase over Christmas.

King, who saddled five winners on a memorable day last Saturday, added: "I'd be inclined to put a line through the King George and I think he's a better horse on a more galloping track – Newbury and Cheltenham would suit him better than Kempton."

Yanworth was arguably the pick of the stable's winners at Cheltenham last Saturday and King confirmed he would go for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival, rather than the Sky Bet-backed Supreme.

"He was very impressive and those were pretty decent horses he was beating," said King.

"He'll go for the Neptune. We just feel he can be a bit novicey with his jumping and the extra distance will give him more time. They might just get him at it on good ground in the Supreme.

"I see no reason to come back in trip after that performance."

Yanworth is now the 5-2 favourite for the Neptune and, asked how good the JP McManus-owned six-year-old could be, King replied: "I don't know. You don't see many horses win like that. His home work is good without being exceptional, but that's four out of four over hurdles and he hasn't come off the bridle. He does frighten me – it's what we dream of."

King, who also won with McCabe Creek and Ziga Boy at Doncaster, said his other Cheltenham scorer Annacotty could go for the Ryanair if the ground was soft.

Keith Reveley has his horses in top form and that has been backed up with a fine treble, starting at Doncaster last Friday with Night In Milan, who loves the Yorkshire track.

His other winners were Waiting Patiently at Sedgefield on Sunday and Special Catch at Newcastle on Wednesday, meaning Reveley is a trainer to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks.

There's plenty of local racing over the next couple of days, starting today at Catterick with a seven-race card due to get underway at 1.20pm.

The second race of the day is an intriguing novices' handicap chase and Micky Hammond's Oscar O'scar looks an interesting recruit to the larger obstacles.

Runner-up last time at Wetherby, it will be very interesting to see if can break his maiden tag.

Tomorrow, it's Wetherby's turn to stage a seven-race card, with the action due to get underway at 1pm.

It's great that Seeyouatmidnight will take his next step on the road for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham after impressing at the track last time out.

Brian Hughes will again take the ride on Sandy Thompson's charge in the totepool Towton Novices' Chase and, at this stage, he could well be the best chance of a Northern-trained winner at this year's Cheltenham Festival.