Champion Hurdler Punjabi makes his reappearance in the Boylesports International . Punjabi faces a maximum of nine rivals including Celestial Halo, who he beat a neck in last year’s Champion Hurdle.

Formerly known as the Bula, this important trial race looks certain to influence the betting for next year’s Championship race as the winner and runner-up in the 2009 running look set to meet again.

Paul Nicholls is confident Celestial Halo can build on last month’s impressive Wincanton success in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Last year’s Champion Hurdle runner-up will lock horns with his Festival conqueror Punjabi and the trainer said yesterday: “Celestial Halo is in good order. He came out of his race at Wincanton very well – he surprised me there with his performance – and he looks like he has improved a lot for the run.” The sponsors have Celestial Halo as 11-10 favourite to beat his Champion Hurdle conqueror Punjabi in Saturday’s Boylesports.com International Hurdle.

Zaynar attempts to extend his unbeaten hurdles career to five in the Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle. Zaynar, the Triumph Hurdle winner, was one of eight entries in the reopened Relkeel Hurdle, but it is unlikely he will face a rematch with Karabak, whom he beat six lengths at Ascot last time.

The big handicap of the weekend is Saturdays Boylesports.com Gold Cup. Having a decent horse in your stable can bring many rewards but, as champion trainer Paul Nicholls will freely testify, it should come with a health warning.

Tim Vaughan, looking to move up to the next rung on the trainers’ ladder, says he has had some sleepless nights for the last two weeks as he prepares Atouchbetweenacara for the biggest race of his and the horse’s career. Of all his 75 boarders, it is the former Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old, who, along with owner Paul Beck’s Stan and Flintoff, arrived unexpectedly at his Cowbridge stables in Glamorgan in early September, who is piling on the pressure.

At the five day declarations for this weeks Boylesports.com Gold Cup there is a surprise defection from the line up in Tranquil Sea, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. The handicap is now headed by Gwanako (16/1 with Boylesports), one of three confirmations for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, and yesterday’s Warwick scorer Our Vic (20/1), who is among three possible starters from the David Pipe yard.

Nicholls could also run Poquelin (6/1), and Chapoturgeon (8/1), who was successful at last season’s Festival in the Listed Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase but fell on his reappearance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 14.

It promises to be a fantastic weekend of racing. Racing Diary will have all the news, views and tips.