Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame and Grand National hero Corach Rambler are among 49 entries for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.
The former also won the King George for the Paul Nicholls team last season and the champion trainer has Complete Unknown and Threeunderthrufive in the race too.
Aintree hero Corach Rambler is expected to reappear at Kelso or Cheltenham this weekend and his trainer Lucinda Russell has a significant second string to her Newbury bow in the shape of Cotswold Chase winner Ahoy Senor.
Dan Skelton has entered Betfair Chase hero Protektorat while Willie Mullins has Gaillard du Mesnil and Bronn in the race.
Brown Advisory Chase winner The Real Whacker is a fascinating potential contender for Patrick Neville while L’homme Presse, a former winner of the Cheltenham showpiece, is also entered.
Kitty’s Light, who enjoyed an incredible end to last season when winning the Eider, Scottish Grand National and Bet365 Gold Cup is likely to have a spin over hurdles before heading to Newbury.
Trained expertly by Christian Williams, he pulled off a unique feat last term in winning three of the most prestigious staying handicaps. Now rated 147, Williams has the Randox Grand National has his big aim this spring.
“He’s in good form and I might give him a run over hurdles before Newbury because he thrived on his racing last year,” said Williams. “Hopefully we’ll then take him to Newbury for the gallops morning about a week before and the plan then will be all systems go for the Coral Gold Cup, we like to have runners in these prestigious races.
“He had a spin in a charity race at Chepstow recently and while I wouldn’t take much notice of that, it was great to see him on the racecourse. A lot of his season is geared around the Grand National but his other big aim is Newbury to try to win that. He’s 147 now so he should be in the top 34 for the National, he’d be very unlucky if he missed out. He will probably stay over hurdles apart from the Coral Gold Cup, though.”
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