Highly-regarded Irish chaser Punchestowns will begin his Cheltenham Festival preparations when he tackles the Totepool Challengers Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Currently a 7/2 favourite for the RSA Chase in March, trainer Nicky Henderson has been desperately trying to get a run into the superstar after a handful of recent meetings were abandoned due to the cold snap in January.

With the race now being re-opened due to a lack of runners, it is questionable what the trainer will learn about the horse this Saturday and he explained:  "He'll run at Sandown on Saturday and all is in good order.

"Newbury went well, we've missed a whole stack of things since then. He was at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but we got cold feet.

"We've got to get in there now because I would like two more (runs) and if we can get in now we can go again in three weeks' time.

"He is a big horse and he needs plenty of work. When Big Buck's beat him in the Cleeve Hurdle I thought I was short that day and we would turn the tables in March but I was wrong.

"He needs a couple more runs," he explained.

Ladbrokes make Punchestowns a 7/2 shot for the RSA Novices Chase at Cheltenham, follow this link to their site for information on how to get a free bet off the firm.

RSA Novices Chase - Ladbrokes
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2010
7/2 Punchestowns, 5 Long Run, 7 Diamond Harry, 8 Mikael D’Haguenet, 10 Weapons Amnesty, 12 Weird Al, 14 Pandorama, 20 Bensalem, 20 Burton Pont, 20 Inchidaly Rock, 25 Hey Big Spender, 25 Catch Me, 25 Jessies Dream, 25 Uimhiraceathair, 25 Tazbar, 33 bar, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)