At Fishers Cross among Wetherby entries

Saturday's Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby looks set to be a cracking contest with nine high-class entries, the stand out name being At Fishers Cross.

Trainer Paul Nicholls is set to be represented by triple Grade One scorer Tidal Bay. The 12-year-old was as good as ever last season, this contest before going on to finish third under top-weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and land the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

He is 4/1 with bet365 to record a repeat success in this valuable contest.

Heading the market at 7/4 with bet365 is At Fishers Cross, trained in Wales by Rebecca Curtis for J P McManus.

The six-year-old was one of the top novices' of last season, racking up Grade One wins at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals over three miles.

The David Pipe-trained Dynaste is also a Grade One winner, having taken the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park last season.

Donald McCain is set to saddle Across The Bay, who was last seen out when finishing 14th in the Grand National at Aintree in April.

The nine-year-old is a smart performer over both hurdles and fences, having enjoyed his biggest success over smaller obstacles in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle over three miles at Haydock Park in February.

McCain said today: "Across The Bay needs to work later this week, but the bet365 Hurdle looks the obvious place to start him this season.

"It looks like it is going to be a hot race, but his first big target is the Becher Chase in December and I want to get a run into him before then. We will also be looking at the Grand National again."

Other leading contenders include Trustan Times (Tim Easterby), who was third behind Across The Bay at Haydock Park last season and Medinas (Alan King), who was triumphant in the Coral Cup at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

Completing the entries are Master Of The Sea (Nigel Twiston-Davies), Captain Sunshine (Emma Lavelle) and The Knoxs (Sue Smith).

Pat Cooney of bet365 said: "The betting public have really latched on to At Fishers Cross. He was our worst result at the last Cheltenham Festival, and we expect him to be a well backed favourite again on Saturday.

"He faces a talent-packed field though and the likes of Dynaste and Tidal Bay in particular will provide a stern test for him, and if At Fishers Cross does win, I'd expect him to overtake Big Buck's as the World Hurdle at Cheltenham market leader."