Only a third of the entries were confirmed for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday.
The highlight of the final day of the National Hunt season was, however, boosted by the possible presence of three absentees from last Saturday's Scottish Grand National due to the unseasonably testing conditions.
Showers at Ayr on Friday led to the withdrawals of Road To Home, Montregard and Ask Brewster (among others) and all three remain in contention for the three mile five furlong handicap chase this weekend.
Gary and Josh Moore are no strangers to success at the Esher track and they are responsible for ante-post favourite Havaila who has won his last two starts, including the Sussex National.
In D'Or, whose chance was highlighted by Matt Brocklebank in Handicap Hints, is 5/1 second favourite with Paddy Power, alongside the aforementioned Montregard while last year's winner Resplendent Grey is another notable contender.
Elsewhere on the card, Doyen Quest's options were whittled down when he was taken out of the Gold Cup but entered in the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase where he has something to find at the weights with Blow Your Wad.
His trainer, Dan Skelton, has a strong team entered including exciting prospect Kabral Du Mathan in the Select Hurdle over an extended two miles five and the monstrously progressive chaser Thistle Ask who has had the bet365 Celebration Chase as a long-term target.
If he's to lift the prize, Thistle Ask will have to better the ever popular Jonbon who was denied a hat-trick in the Grade 1 12 months ago by Il Etait Temps but that performance looks better now than it did at the time and he has been installed as the early favourite.
Solness went down on his sword at Aintree but could make a relatively quick reappearance with the potential line-up rounded out by Brookie, Mirabad and another pair of popular old-stagers in Edwardstone and JPR One.
Paddy Power prices: 11/8 Jonbon, 13/8 Thistle Ask, 4/1 Solness, 8/1 Edwardstone, JPR One, 10/1 Mirabad, 20/1 Brookie
More from Sporting Life
- Free bets
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.