Paul Nicholls will launch a four-pronged attack on the final handicap of the year after the 20 runners were confirmed for the bet365 Gold Cup.
Champion trainer mob-handed in final big handicap
Paul Nicholls will launch a four-pronged attack on the final handicap of the year after the 20 runners were confirmed for the bet365 Gold Cup.
The champion trainer is responsible for ante-post favourite Just Amazing while the Andy Stewart-owned pair My Will and Hoo La Baloo are also joined by Nozic.
Stewart, who also has the Richard Rowe-trained novice Martys Mission in the field, is still looking to win the Sandown handicap for the first time despite several near-misses.
"Hoo La Baloo was favourite one year and My Will was third in this once under top weight but he's not top weight this time with Monkerhostin going," said Stewart.
"This will be his last race, he's got 11st 6lb and we'll look to go hunter chasing with him. He's 10 years old now. He won't go for another National. He had his chance last year and came third and fell this time.
"Hoo La Baloo hasn't had a race for a long time. Ruby (Walsh) rode him last time and was going to ride him in the Bet365 but he had that fall from Celestial Halo at Liverpool, so that's why we put young Ian Popham claiming 5lb on him.
"Martys Mission has got in the race so he will run too. This race at the end of the season is always a very competitive handicap."
Competitive
The weights are headed by Monkerhostin, who took this prize two years ago. His trainer Philip Hobbs is also represented by the 2006 victor and 2009 third Lacdoudal as well as Fairoak Lad.
The Minehead trainer had two other entries - Boychuk and Templer - but they were out of the top 20.
David Pipe is also a trainer with three hopes, headed by The Package and backed up by Tamarinbleu and Piraya.
Pipe is hoping The Package shows no ill-effects from the Grand National in which he got as far as the 19th fence.
"He seems to come out of the race fine. He shouldn't mind the ground or the trip," said the Nicholashayne trainer.
"It just depend as sometimes they don't perform next time after the National. That's going to be in the back of your mind but he seems well and it looks an ideal race for him."
Nigel Twiston-Davies sends Irish Raptor and Hello Bud, who both ran in the John Smith's Grand National.
A highly-competitive line-up also includes one Irish hope, the Michael Hourigan-trained Church Island, who attempts to improve on his fourth place 12 months ago.
