Cosford racehorse owner John Hales’ star chaser Neptune Collonges is set to sidestep the Grand National and run instead in his third Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The flying grey has been allotted joint-top weight of 11st 10lb for the Aintree spectacular in April, but trainer Paul Nicholls admits it’s “unlikely” the 11-year-old will take his chance.

Neptune Collonges returns this season after a long injury lay-off and proved he was right back to his best with a convincing win in the Argento Chase, in the hands of champion jockey Tony McCoy.

Although he is entered for the Grand National, the plan is likely to be Cheltenham followed by a trip to Punchestown.

Nicholls said: “He ran a cracking race the other day when he made all the running. As a result of that he was given top weight for the Grand National but I suspect it will be unlikely he will run.

“He’s run in a couple of Gold Cups and been placed twice. The intention is to run him. At his very best he could move into a place.

“He’s not getting any younger or quicker but he will go a good gallop.”

Nicholls also revealed that Neptune Collonges had been the subject of another injury scare after his recent victory.

He returned to Ditcheat sore and was lame for 48 hours but, after undergoing X-rays, he was handed the all-clear and is now back on track for Cheltenham in three weeks’ time.

Nicholls was parading 15 of his Cheltenham runners, among them another owned by the Hales family.

Al Ferof is Neptune’s younger half-brother and is entered in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the first day of the Festival and the Neptune Investment Hurdle on the second day, with the ground conditions the deciding factor on which is his final target.

Nicholls is expecting a big run from a horse he calls ‘baby Neptune’ and has won his last two novice hurdles.

He said: “I think if the ground is good to soft he will go on the first day. He travels very well and will make a cracking chaser next year.”

Nicholls believes that his big two for the Gold Cup, Kauto Star and Denman, are as good as ever, despite now being 11-year-olds.

Denman has had a minor breathing operation and Nicholls revealed ‘The Tank’ is showing lots of enthusiasm in his work and shone during a racecourse gallop on Sunday alongside World Hurdle favourite Big Buck’s.

The trainer believes that his former winners and last year’s champion Imperial Commander, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, are the ones to beat in the blue riband, despite the presence of Long Run, who beat Kauto Star in the King George last month.

Nicholls said: “It’s going to be a very interesting and open race this year, but those are the three to beat.”

Kauto Star may go for a racecourse gallop before the big day, but the main aim of that will be to reacquaint him with an old friend, the yard’s No 1 jockey Ruby Walsh.

Walsh has been out of action since November after suffering a double leg fracture in an horrific fall at Down Royal, just after riding Kauto Star to victory on his seasonal reappearance.

The Irish jockey will be at Ditcheat on Monday and Tuesday to ride out for the first time since his injury and Nicholls hopes he will be able to return to the racetrack at Taunton on Thursday.

This has been a low-key season so far by Nicholls’ high standards and he believes Walsh’s absence has been key.

He added: “Hopefully he will be able to ride in all the big races before the end of the season.

“Missing Ruby has been pivotal to our season. It has been a massive blow.”

By Celia Holmes