46 for Red Square Vodka Gold Cup

An entry of 46 - an increase of 10 on 2004 - has been received for the 2005 renewal of the £120,000 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, the highlight of Haydock Park´s programme on Saturday, February 19 and part of the British Horseracing Board´s Order of Merit scheme.

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The valuable and prestigious Grade Three, 3m 4f 110yds contest is one of the major trials for the John Smith´s Grand National and no less than 33 of this year´s possibles also hold an entry for the Aintree marathon on April 9. There could also be some clues for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup with nine Red Square Vodka Gold Cup entries also engaged for chasing´s Blue Riband.

Martin Pipe is seeking his third success in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup and is responsible for no less than 10 of the entries including the 2004 winner Jurancon II (11st) and last Saturday´s Pillar Property Chase runner-up Therealbandit (11st 12lb), who tops the weights. Also included among the Somerset trainer´s representatives are the Paddy Power and Hennessy Gold Cup scorer Celestial Gold (11st 6lb), tough stayer Stormez (11st 1lb), Iris Bleu (10st 6lb), third in the 2003 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, the very useful novice Control Man (10st 9lb), the classy chaser/hurdler It Takes Time (10st 8lb), Maximize (9st 13lb), Akarus (9st 9lb) and Bounce Back (9st 5lb).

Another trainer well represented is Paul Nicholls who has five to choose from including the 2003 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winner Shotgun Willy (10st 13lb), as well as leading Grand National hope Royal Auclair (11st 8lb), dual betfred Gold Cup hero Ad Hoc (10st 12lb), Heros Collonges (10st 8lb) and the tough staying mare L´Aventure (10st 2lb).

Bingley-based handler Sue Smith sent out The Last Fling to a memorable success in 2000 and has a quartet of entries this time around, headed by Royal Emperor (11st 2lb), second on his latest start at Haydock Park in the Grade Two totesport Hurdle on January 22, Chives (11st 2lb), successful at Haydock Park earlier this season in the Grade Two Tommy Whittle Chase, Artic Jack (9st 13lb), the 2004 Peter Marsh Chase victor and Tipsy Mouse (9st), a full-brother to the 1995 Grand National winner Royal Athlete and twice a winner at Haydock Park last season.

There are two entries from Ireland in the shape of the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter (10st 10lb), who fell at the last when still in contention in the 2004 Grand National and is a likely runner plus Frances Crowley´s Nil Desperandum (10st 8lb).

French ace Francois Doumen has a trio of entries to choose from, headed by First Gold (11st 10lb), who showed a return to form on his latest start when runner-up to Lord Transcend in Haydock´s Peter Marsh Chase on January 22. Doumen could also run Kelami (9st 12lb), owned by race sponsor Halewood International Ltd, and Innox (9st 8lb).

Other leading contenders include Nigel Twiston-Davies´ duo of Baron Windrush (10st 7lb), successful in the totesport Classic Chase at Warwick last month when he saw off D´Argent (10st 8lb) in a thrilling finish, and Bindaree (11st), the 2002 Grand National hero. Ferdy Murphy could be represented by his 2003 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Truckers Tavern (11st 1lb) while Paul Webber has made an entry for Buckby Lane (10st 8lb), an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Cheltenham on January 29. Two intriguing contenders from smaller yards are Forest Gunner (10st 3lb), trained by Richard Ford and twice a winner over the Grand National fences in the Fox Hunters and Grand Sefton Chases and the Paul Keane-trained Bathwick Annie (10st), an impressive scorer on her last two starts at Wincanton.

Adam Waterworth, Haydock Park´s Managing Director, commented: 'The 2005 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup looks all set to be a really great race with plenty of pointers to Cheltenham and Aintree.

'This year´s entry of 46 boasts both of the last two winners and we are delighted to see so many Haydock favourites entered for our biggest chase of the season.'