The November meeting – Eighteen declared for the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham
Harry Fry's Kylemore Lough will have it tough as he's been left carrying top-weight in Saturday's BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
KYLEMORE LOUGH, the ante-post favourite for the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham's November meeting this weekend, will shoulder top-weight in a field of 18.
The eight-year-old will be having his first start for Harry Fry, having previously been with Kerry Lee, for whom he was fourth in the Grade One Melling Chase at Aintree on his final start last season.
Somewhat ironically, it was Lee's withdrawal of Top Gamble at the final declaration stage that has bumped her former charge up to top-weight.
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It kicks off at Cheltenham itself with the Open Meeting this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
There are two previous Cheltenham Festival winners among the competitive field, one of which is the Ian Williams-trained Ballyalton.
A winner at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, he shaped well over hurdles on his first run for 18 months at Aintree last month.
Williams tweeted: "Ballyalton has pleased me with his work, schooling and well-being since Aintree and we know he loves Cheltenham."
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Alan Fleming's Tully East won at the Cheltenham Festival last season and return to scene of his biggest triumph, whilst Jim Culloty's Lake Takapuna provides the other Irish hope in a race the Irish haven't trained the winner of since 2009.
Paul Nicholls had a plethora of entries but relies on just two horses - Le Prezien and Romain De Senam - as he seeks to land this prize for a third time in six years.
Nicky Henderson has had plenty of near misses in this contest in recent years and the Seven Barrows handler looks to Days Of Heaven and Theinval to end his 14 year drought.
Templegate's Treble
NAP 3.30 Ludlow - Petite Power: 'Been running well in better races than this off the same mark'
NEXT BEST 6.25 Chelmsford - Magic Pulse: 'She was not beaten far after getting hampered on her handicap debut'
TREBLE 2.35 Taunton - New Millennium: 'Put up a career-best last time and has more to offer'
Three-time winner Nigel-Twiston Davies is another trainer that is double-handed with recent Cheltenham winner Foxtail Hill and Splash Of Ginge.
David Pipe struck with Great Endeavour in 2011 and has recent Stratford winner Starchitect running for him this time.
Completing the line-up are Double Treasure, Viconte Du Noyer, Aqua Dude, Bentelimar, Plaisir D'Amour, Guitar Pete and Mystifiable.