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A maximum field of 20 is set to line up in the £150,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.25pm), the highlight of The Open at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 12.
Final declarations were made today for the extended two and a half mile handicap and the weights are headed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Poquelin (11st 12lb, 25/1), the mount of conditional jockey David Pritchard, who will take off a valuable 7lb. Champion trainer Nicholls, who has yet to taste success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, is also set to be represented by Mon Parrain (10st 8lb), the mount of Ruby Walsh and the current 100/30 favourite with Paddy Power, and Aerial (10st, 16/1).
There are two Irish-trained declarations - Loosen My Load (10st 9lb,16/1) and Finger Onthe Pulse (10st 2lb, 33/1) while Nigel Twiston-Davies, the most successful current trainer in the race with three victories and triumphant last year with Little Josh, is double-handed with Billie Magern (10st, 20/1), a winner at The Showcase last time out and Swincombe Rock (10st, 33/1).
Trainer Charlie Mann is hoping that Fine Parchment (10st, 20/1), who just made the cut for the Paddy Power Gold Cup as number 20, can add to his success at Cheltenham last season when he landed a handicap chase over two miles and five furlongs in December. He was also successful in the Grade Three Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury last season and made a pleasing seasonal reappearance saw him finish second under top weight to Hector's Choice in a handicap chase at Aintree on October 22.
Mann commented today: “Fine Parchment is in great form. He ran a good race to finish second at Aintree when the ground was a little bit quick for him.
“He won at Cheltenham last season and he returns in great order - he goes there with a decent chance.
“Noel Fehily would have taken the ride but he was too far out of the handicap with Poquelin running. He is only 1lb wrong in the weights with Peter's (Carberry) 5lb claim so it seemed the logical thing to do.”
The 15/2 second favourite with Paddy Power is Wishfull Thinking (11st 6lb), a Grade Three winner over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham in January and runner-up in the Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival while David Pipe, whose father Martin trained a record eight winners of the race, relies on Great Endeavour (10st 3b, 12/1), winner of the Grade Three Byrne Group Plate at The Festival in 2010.
Paddy Power Gold Cup - Paddy Power bet: 100/30 Mon Parrain, 15/2 Wishfull Thinking, 12/1 Great Endeavour, The Giant Bolster, 14/1 Dave's Dream, Divers, 16/1 Loosen My Load, Noble Alan, Araldur, Quantitativeeasing, Tullamore Dew, Aerial, 20/1 Billie Magern, Fine Parchment, 25/1 Holmwood Legend, Poquelin, Aigle D'Or, 33/1 Finger Onthe Pulse, Calgary Bay, Oiseau De Nuit, Swincombe Rock
each-way ¼ odds, 4 places