Willie Mullins expects a "huge run" from Vautour in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup next week.

Mullins feels last season's JLT Novices' Chase winner is coming to the boil nicely ahead of his date with destiny, having recently impressed on the gallops at home.

The County Carlow handler told the Sun: "Vautour has done far better work this week than he has in the last three (weeks). That tells me he should go for the Gold Cup. Every year at Christmas Vautour disappoints us a bit, and every year he improves in the spring and for the hill at Cheltenham. This year looks no different. We expect a huge run."