50 For Red Square Vodka Gold

The 2008 renewal of the £125,000 Grade Three Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday, February 16, has attracted 50 entries, two more than in 2007 and a joint-record with 2006.

The great Red Rum, winner of the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, ran at Haydock prior to each of his five starts at Aintree and Donald McCain Jnr, son of Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain, has three horses engaged this year - Cloudy Lane, Idle Talk, who are both owned by Trevor Hemmings, as well as Bannister Lane.

Cloudy Lane triumphed at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase and was successful on his latest outing in the Sodexho Prestige Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on December 22 - his fourth victory at the track. Idle Talk, runner-up in the 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham unseated his rider last time out in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow while Bannister Lane finished third over the Grand National fences in the totepool Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in November.

McCain Jnr revealed today: 'I was delighted with Cloudy Lane's run in the Sodexho Prestige Tommy Whittle Chase, especially on the soft going. He's a better horse on decent ground and he didn't like the heavy underfoot conditions in last year's Red Square Vodka Gold Cup.

'He's entered in this year's race, and it is a possibility if the ground at Haydock improves considerably. He needs another run somewhere before going to Aintree.

'Idle Talk is another possible runner. Mr Hemmings likes having runners at Haydock and the extended three and a half miles would suit him. He was travelling very sweetly in the Welsh National at Chepstow before unseating. We've had Yogi Breisner up and he was very happy with him and it looks like it's just a concentration issue.

'He's got ability, having finished second in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in 2006, and the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup would be his type of race.

'Bannister Lane is rated 120, so it could be difficult for him to get in. He loves soft ground and has been running very well in staying chases under top-weight. There is a decent race in this horse and, if he can sneak in off a light weight, he's the sort who could run very well.'

Along with last year's runner-up L'Aventure, champion trainer Paul Nicholls is represented in the entries with Opera Mundi, a game winner under top-weight of the Betting As It Should Be Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on November 24. Completing his four-strong entry is Officier De Reserve and Coral Welsh National fifth Geeveem.

Five of the eight finishers in last month's Welsh National have been entered for this three mile, four and a half furlong contest, including the gutsy winner Miko De Beauchene from Robert Alner's yard.

David Pipe is the trainer with the most entries, with six to choose from at this stage. They include Welsh National third Over The Creek and Madison Du Berlais, runner-up to stable companion Vodka Bleu in the valuable Silver Cup at Ascot last month, while Sodexho Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase second Comply Or Die is also entered in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, which is part of the Order Of Merit series.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, who won the race in 2001 with Frantic Tan, has three entries, including the smart Fundamentalist, Irish Raptor and Coral Welsh National fourth Naunton Brook.

The John Spearing-trained Simon, last season's Sky Bet Chase and Racing Post Chase winner, is also entered. He's currently the joint second favourite for the Grand National in April along with Howard Johnson's Bewleys Berry, who could also head to Haydock Park on February 16.

County Durham-based Don Forster has entered 2006 winner Ossmoses, though the 11-year-old has been off the track since March. Model Son, 15 lengths behind Ossmoses two years ago, could reoppose.

There is a strong potential challenge of nine entered from Ireland, including the last two winners of tomorrow's Thyestes Chase, namely Willie Mullins' Homer Wells and the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire. The latter trainer also has Paddy Power Chase winner and Thyestes Chase favourite Newbay Prop engaged.

Also bidding to give Ireland a first win in the race since Pat Fahy saddled Nuaffe to success in 1995, could be Pat Hughes' 2006 Irish Grand National winner Point Barrow and Arthur Moore's classy Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase runner-up King Johns Castle.

Other notable entries include Oliver Sherwood's Eric's Charm and 2007 John Smith's Grand National fourth Philson Run, who was second to D'Argent in the totesport Classic Chase at Warwick last time out.

Francois Doumen supplies the two French entries in Kelami, who finished third behind Forest Gunner in the 2005 renewal, and Nitrat, a Listed winner in his native country.