Salmon Heads 24 Gold Cup Hopefuls

A maximum field of 24 horses have been declared for Friday's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Michael Hourigan's ante-post favourite Beef Or Salmon tops the biggest ever field for the race in its 83-year history.

The 10-year-old is as short as 7-2 with William Hill after an impressive success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time.

Second favourite and King George VI Chase runner-up Monkerhostsin will be one of two runners for trainer Philip Hobbs as he also sends One Knight.

War Of Attrition takes up his entry in this race after connections decided to bypass tomorrow's Ryanair Chase while Martin Pipe's Celestial Gold is due to have his first start since finishing seventh in this race last year.

Robert Alner's Kingscliff was pulled out last year connections were not entirely happy with the horse but he is set to join stablemate and last year's third Sir Rembrandt this time.

Hedgehunter, the 2005 John Smith's Grand National hero, will try to land the first leg of an audacious double ahead of Aintree while Jonjo O'Neill runs former Stayers' Hurdle winner Iris's Gift.

Francois Doumen, who took the blue riband with The Fellow in 1994, bids for a repeat with Racing Post Chase second L'Ami and he is one of three French raiders along with rank outsiders Astonville and Turnium.

Take The Stand, second behind Kicking King here in 2005, is one of two runners for Peter Bowen as last year's eighth Ballycassidy also takes his chance in the three-mile-two-and-a-half furlong contest.

A total of four Irish-trained runners take part with Michael O'Brien's Forget The Past completing their team while trainers' championship leader Paul Nicholls sends out Cornish Rebel and Royal Auclair.

Ferdy Murphy, who trained Truckers Tavern to finish second in 2003, runs Joes Edge while Pipe also has Iznogoud.

The line-up is completed by Lord Of Illusion, Limerick Boy, Ollie Magern, Royal Emperor and Tikram.

There were only four withdrawals at the final declaration stage with Pipe taking out Joaaci and Our Vic while Oliver Carter did not declare Early Edition and Venn Ottery.

(C) PA Sport