Maximum Field For Boylesports.com Gold Cup

A maximum field of 17 goes to post for the £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup (2.40pm) while eight high-class hurdlers from Britain and Ireland line up in the £200,000 Grade Two Boylesports International (3.10pm).

Sublimity, winner of the 2007 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at The Festival tops the octet in the Boylesports.com International and is one of two Irish-trained contenders along with Macs Joy, runner-up to Brave Inca in the 2006 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Afsoun, third behind Sublimity at The Festival last season, lines up for Nicky Henderson after putting up a very good performance on his seasonal debut at Ascot while Alan King is doubly represented by last year's JCB Triumph Hurdle victor Katchit and Penzance, winner of the same contest in 2005.

David Pipe runs Osana, a highly-creditable second on his seasonal reappearance under top weight in the Greatwood Hurdle at The Open on November 18, while Straw Bear, trained by Nick Gifford and runner-up in the 2006 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, makes his seasonal debut.

The one remaining declaration is Desert Quest from the yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls. Winner of the 2006 Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at The Festival, he reverts to hurdles after two recent wins in novice chase company.

There is a £200,000 bonus if the winner of the Boylesports.com International goes on to capture the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in March.

Heading the weights for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup is Knowhere (11st 12lb), trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open. The Naunton handler also saddles the horse at the bottom of the weights, Patman du Charmil (10st 7lb).

The Alan King-trained Il Duce, runner-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, also lines up while Paul Nicholls bids to continue his superb run of form with favourite New Little Bric and Le Volfoni.

Palarshan, fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and winner of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at The Festival in 2003 represents Henry Daly while Ferdy Murphy, trainer of Paddy Power Gold Cup victor L'Anartique, bids for a memorable Cheltenham double with New Alco.

Abragante, a facile winner in a Listed contest at Wincanton on his penultimate appearance, is one of two David Pipe-trained runners along with Tamarinbleu, last seen out when winning at Perth in June.

Jessica Harrington supplies the one Irish-trained starter with Knight Legend, runner-up in the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase on November 15.

Idole First won over the course and distance when taking the Racing Post Plate at The Festival last season while Nicky Henderson runs Copsale Lad, who will be wearing blinkers for the first time.

The two challengers from the North are the Nicky Richards-trained Faasel, a staying-on fourth in last season's Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and Malcolm Jefferson's useful performer Roman Ark, successful on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month.

Completing the field for the two miles, five furlong contest are Magic Sky, Black Hills and Yes Sir.

There are five other races on the card with the first race due off at 12.20pm.

Ground

The ground at Cheltenham remains GOOD.

Speaking before racing on Friday, Simon Claisse, Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, commented: 'We had a minus four degrees earlier in the week and had been expecting cold weather on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so we took the precaution of having some frost covers delivered on Wednesday if we needed them.

'As it transpired, that was not necessary. It only got down to minus two last night but we did take the precaution of covering the take off and landing areas and a few crossing points.

'Tonight, it is only meant down to get down to about minus one. As a precaution, we will cover the chase and hurdles course tonight. It can be rotten bad luck when the temperature gets down lower than forecast so we don't want to take any chances.

'We are racing on the New Course at the Boylesports International on ground that has not been used since May. It is beautiful, fresh ground. The only section of the Old and New courses that is shared is the two and a half mile start, so around 90% of the ground is fresh.

'The temperature is likely to be around three or four degrees tomorrow afternoon, but it will be dry so as long as you wrap up warm the day should be very pleasant.'