All roads lead to the Cheltenham Festival next week, and Mark Bradstock is hoping King Harald can repeat his success of three years ago for his Letcombe Bassett yard, near Wantage.

The ten-year-old gave Bradstock his first Festival winner with a thrilling victory under Mattie Batchelor in the 2005 Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase.

"It was just very special," recalls the master of the Old Manor House stables.

However, a year later, King Harald suffered a stress fracture of his off-fore on the gallops.

He had four pins put in the leg, and it was thought his career may be over.

But the Bradstocks nursed him back to fitness, and after a spell in the wilderness, he bounced back to winning ways with an emotional victory at Kelso in November.

Further wins have followed at Fakenham and Doncaster this term, and now King Harald is set to tackle the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase on Tuesday.

"He seems in fantastic form," said Bradstock. "It is always going to be fast and furious, but it doesn't really worry him.

"They went pretty quick in the Jewson when he won it. I think he has got every chance."

Bradstock also has Cossack Dancer lined up for the Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase on Thursday, before rising star Carruthers tackles the Albert Bartlett Spa Novices' Hurdle on Friday.

Henrietta Knight's Festival team has been depleted with Ringaroses ruled out of the Coral Cup after suffering an injury setback.

The seven-year-old, from Knight's West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, was the 7-1 second favourite with the sponsors for the two-mile-five-furlong heat after finishing second to Backbord at Doncaster last time.

Knight said: "Ringaroses has pulled a muscle in his hind- quarters and will not be running next week.

Calgary Bay is on course to tackle the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday.

A winner at Cheltenham in December, the five-year-old has since been beaten at Sandown and Exeter where he found the testing ground against him.

"He is a chaser for next year," said Knight. "He is a very talented horse. He would have a chance, but maybe there will be a few nippier things."

She also has Racing Demon in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison is keeping his fingers crossed Starzaan gets to the Royal & SunAlliance Chase on Wednesday in one piece.

The nine-year-old is notoriously fragile, but has returned this season after a near two-year absence to win both his starts over fences.

Morrison said: "He has undoubtedly got the class to win it, but he is a very difficult horse to keep fit."

On the Flat, Alan Jarvis's Twyford stables, near Bicester, celebrated another valuable triumph with Wise Dennis in Dubai.

Ted Durcan's mount repeated his win of the previous week over Godolphin's Dijeerr in a thrilling finish to the first leg of the Listed Zabeel Mile at Nad Al Sheba.

The six-year-old took the £60,301 first prize by a short head, adding to the £52,763 he collected six days earlier.