Kerry Lee’s Top Gamble heads the weights for Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham racecourse
Kerry Lee's chaser is set to shoulder top weight as 22 horses stood their ground for the contest
TOP GAMBLE heads the weights as 22 horses stood their ground for Saturday's BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
With a maximum field size limit of 20, Kerry Lee's nine-year-old tops the weights for the valuable two and a half-mile contest.
It is Kylemore Lough - set to have his first run for Harry Fry having moved from Lee's yard - who heads the betting for the race.
Tully East is another fancied by punters as Alan Fleming's Festival winner in March bids to return to winning ways following a pleasing comeback run over hurdles at Punchestown last month.
Paul Nicholls has left in three, with Le Prezien, Clan Des Obeaux and Romain De Senam potentially representing Ditcheat.
Nicholls said: "This is the ideal race to run him (Romain De Senam) in as he needs a real fast-run race, which he will get at Cheltenham, and he is in good shape.
"Le Prezien is in good order. He is rated 150 which is quite high. He is an improving game young horse that gets the trip so he must have a chance."
Nicky Henderson is also triple-handed with Days Of Heaven, Theinval and Gold Present.
Henderson said: "Theinval was unlucky all last year. One day we will get it right.
";He ran very nicely at Ascot over two miles the day but this is his trip.
"Days Of Heaven has got himself into it, but he is too high (in the handicap). He is a horse that loves very fast ground.
Templegate's treble
NAP 2.35 Carlisle - King's Odyssey: 'Conditions, ground and the small field are in his favour'
NEXT BEST 2.55 Kempton - Le Breuil: 'He should take all the beating if ready to roll on seasonal debut'
TREBLE 3.30 Kempton - Clan Des Obeaux: 'Today's sharper track will suit him'
"Gold Present needs a few to come out, so we might go for something else. It's his trip and he ran a very good race in the novice handicap at the Festival last year."
Foxtail Hill and Starchitect are others to note in a strong field.