Den One Of Ten For Newbury

Denman is likely to face a small field in his final run before the Cheltenham Gold Cup as only 10 entries were received for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls has also entered Kauto Star in the three-mile event, a race the Gold Cup winner won 12 months ago. However, his preferred target remains the Commercial First Chase at Ascot a week later.

Gold Cup third Turpin Green may take his chance for Nicky Richards, while Ferdy Murphy's Another Promise could make his seasonal reappearance.

Ollie Magern is set to comeback after a spell on the sidelines and David Pipe will be looking for a much better showing from Celestial Gold after the former Hennessy winner was pulled up on his comeback over hurdles.

Howard Johnson has two possibles, Grand National fancy Bewleys Berry and El Vaquero, while Sue Smith has entered grand sort Mister McGoldrick.

Donald McCain's impressive Ascot scorer Regal Heights completes the list.

Champion trainer Nicholls confirmed Kauto Star is only in the race as back-up in case anything happens to Denman, and that Ascot is his target, all things being equal.

"It's just an insurance policy in case anything happens to Denman," said Nicholls.

"There is no change in plan at all, I just put him in in case anything should happen to Denman, God forbid.

"They are both 100% at the moment, Kauto is just there in case I couldn't run Denman for whatever reason.

"The Aon looks the ideal race for Denman and they have both cantered this morning, but Denman runs unless something happens. Kauto is just an option."

(C) PA Sport