Hunt Ball is looking to continue his remarkable season when he steps up in class for Thursday's Betfred Bowl at Aintree for which there are 16 entries.
Henderson pair among the possible opposition
Hunt Ball is looking to continue his remarkable season when he steps up in class for Thursday's Betfred Bowl at Aintree for which there are 16 entries.
Keiran Burke's charge has now risen an extraordinary 85lb this season, starting from when he won a minor race at Folkestone in November off a handicap mark of 69 and culminating with a victory in the Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He could face a plethora of different and accomplished chasers, with the first three home in the Ryanair Chase - Riverside Theatre, Albertas Run and Medermit - all entered to potentially step up to three miles.
Riverside Theatre's trainer Nicky Henderson also has Gold Cup fourth Burton Port in the mix, while other Gold Cup runners Diamond Harry, Weird Al, What A Friend, Time For Rupert and Carruthers could also be involved.
Last year's hero and Racing Plus Chase winner Nacarat is another notable possible.
Buck's Primed
Four-time Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Big Buck's will open the 2012 Grand National meeting by bidding to make it four consecutive victories in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle.
Apart from third-placed Smad Place, opposition to the unbeatable stayer looks thin on the ground as he attempts to break Sir Ken's record of 16 consecutive jumping wins.
Another Cheltenham Festival star, John Quinn's Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame, is among the entries for the Grade One Matalan Anniversary Four-Year-Old Juvenile Hurdle.
Grumeti and Dodging Bullets, who were third and fourth, could reoppose along with a handful of others to have competed at the meeting.
Henderson's Bellvano, who took the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, is entered in the matalan.co.uk Red Rum Handicap Chase, while there are some interesting entries for the Betfred Manifesto Novices' Chase.
These include Venetia Williams' fast-improving Pepite Rose, Arkle second and fourth Cue Card and Al Ferof, and Jewson runner-up Champion Court.
