No horse has ever regained the Cheltenham Gold Cup but that is what both War Of Attrition and Kauto Star are out to achieve on 13 March.

While Kauto Star will arrive at the Festival on the back of winning his third King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, War Of Attrition is still searching to recapture his best form.

Mouse Morris's 10-year-old was at the top of his game before suffering a leg injury and was off the track for nearly two years.

War Of Attrition won his first two races following his return in October but has struggled since at the highest level, finishing 20 lengths behind Exotic Dancer in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last time.

"He's on track but I just hope they don't start watering at Cheltenham, that's the only thing I'm worried about," said Morris.

"He's a spring horse and he does show much better form on good ground than the ground you get around Christmas.

"He's not been disgraced, but I was slightly disappointed by him in the Lexus. As long as he gets his ground I still think that the Gold Cup is his class. There's not a lot between those at the top and the bottom this year.

"He arrived there in the John Durkan Chase going really well and probably should have kicked on but he wasn't disgraced."

Morris will have been heartened to hear the latest weather and going reports from Cheltenham indicating that the Festival will be run in warm and sunny conditions which could result in good ground.

The going is currently good to soft, good in places, but clerk of the course Simon Claisse, said: "There is a chance of high pressure building during Festival week which will give drier and more settled weather."

Meanwhile, last year's Gold Cup winner Denman will be sent for a racecourse gallop next week with trainer Paul Nicholls believing the nine-year-old has improved for his return outing at Kempton. "He doesn't need a racecourse gallop for fitness, but just to spark him up," said Nicholls.