Connections of Djakadam hope the Gold Cup runner-up is still improving ahead of his run in the BetBright Trial Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

After getting turned over at Punchestown following his brave Cheltenham run last spring, there were questions to be answered on his reappearance over two and a half miles in the John Durkan Chase in December.

But he was sparkling in brushing aside some top-class rivals and this has been the plan since.

With Willie Mullins farming big races in England this season, everything appears to be in his favour.

Owner Rich Ricci's racing manager Joe Chambers said: "He looked very good in the John Durkan.

"That was his first run back and he had questions to answer whether or not a tough end to last season had left a mark or not.

"There were no signs it had, though, as he showed plenty of pace, travelled well and jumped super. It was nice to see him do that.

"We saw this as a good chance to take him back to Cheltenham with a view to March. All the practice you can get is a good thing.

"We weren't surprised with how much speed he showed in the Durkan as he had won plenty over shorter trips - so much so that we were confident enough to run him in the JLT as a novice.

"The fact he fell that day, when we felt he was still going very well, meant he crept under the radar a bit for a time.

"We've always thought the world of him and chasing was always going to be his game.

"He's only seven and if he hadn't already been second in a Gold Cup the hope you'd have would be that he's still improving." Smad Place was a devastating winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup before finishing fourth in the King George when different tactics were employed after he made all of the running at Newbury.

"It's no secret that trying to win the Hennessy first time out last year was a disaster," trainer Alan King told Racing UK.

"He ran very well but got extremely tired and I don't think he ever really got over it.

"This year we've done things differently. We got him started at Kempton in a graduation chase and had a lovely school around there which brought him on - it made such a difference in the Hennessy.

"Rightly or wrongly, we went the King George route. I just didn't want to make the running as it would have suited the opposition.

"I thought he ran OK but he made a mistake at a ditch and he was on the back foot thereafter.

"I just thought Vautour would have loved to have sat on our tail at Kempton, and I think that's what would have happened.

"I'm very happy with him and I want to try to make up my mind and see which race we run him in at the Festival."

Oliver Sherwood's Grand National winner Many Clouds lost little in defeat in trying to give subsequent Lexus hero Don Poli 5lb at Aintree in December and his team are building back up towards the big one on Merseyside in the spring.

"He's in really good shape," said jockey Leighton Aspell.

"I schooled him on Thursday and he's in tip-top form - it's a strong race like last year.

"Djakadam looks like he has improved, but this race just fits perfectly in Many Clouds' preparation for the Grand National.

"He ran a cracking race last time but this should give him a good chance to get some more practice in before Aintree.

"He will run well - win, lose or draw."

The Rebecca Curtis-trained O'Faolains Boy is a former Festival scorer and returned to winning ways last time out.

Whether he can hold his own in this company is the next question.

"He has been in really good form since his win at Newbury last month," said Curtis.

"He has come on for that win and has been working well at home. He won at the Festival on good ground, but these days I would prefer to keep him to softer ground, just to help his legs.

"Hopefully, he can run a nice trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup."