The bet365 Handicap Chase, run over two and a half miles at Ascot on Saturday has attracted a healthy number of entries at the five-day stage.

The race now known as the BetVictor Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious and informative handicaps in the National Hunt calendar, with several horses who have gone on to contest the biggest prize of them all, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, featuring on the roll of honour.

Gary Moore has decided against running Benatar this weekend and will instead send his exciting novice chaser straight to the Cheltenham Festival.

Benatar just held off Finian's Oscar in a pulsating three-runner Mitie Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot.