bet365 Gold Cup preview

Paul Nicholls is pinning his hopes on Southfield Theatre giving him what would be a title-clinching success in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

The Ditcheat handler has won this prestigious staying handicap chase four times, but victory this year would mean more as it would virtually guarantee him a 10th trainers' championship by seeing off the determined challenge of Irish ace Willie Mullins.

Nicholls has made no secret of the fact he has kept Southfield Theatre for this race and a similar plan worked with Vicente in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr last weekend.

He told Betfair: "I'd say our main hope is Southfield Theatre, a proper horse who is on his way back now having had training issues earlier in the season. His was the first name I pencilled in for this race.

"Like Vicente he has been trained for a specific race and is definitely our main contender."

Nicholls also runs last year's winner Just A Par, while Mullins is double-handed with Measureofmydreams and Sir Des Champs.

They are returning on the back of disappointing performances in the Scottish and Aintree Nationals respectively.

"Measureofmydreams didn't get very far in Ayr last week. It's tough for a novice in those big handicaps, but hopefully he's learnt from that," said Mullins' son and assistant, Patrick.

"He seems to have come out of that race fine, we think he's on a nice mark and he should stay, so hopefully he has a good chance.

"Sir Des Champs didn't take to Aintree at all. Nina (Carberry) said he just didn't enjoy the fences round there, which can happen.

"He only did a lap and doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects from that.

"We thought he was very well going into the National and we fancied him to run well, so hopefully he can do that on Saturday."

Neil Mulholland is delighted the ground has improved to boost the chances of The Druids Nephew, who found conditions far too soft in the Grand National at Aintree.

"He's perfect, he pulled up fresh. He just doesn't handle soft ground, he doesn't travel, he doesn't jump," Mulholland said.

"Mark Quinlan rode him in a piece of work this week and said he feels as good as ever.

"He fresh and well and was pulled up plenty early enough in the National.

"He came home and was out in the field the next day and had a skip and a buck. He's exceptionally well."

Mulholland is launching a three-pronged attack on the big race by also saddling Carole's Destrier and The Young Master.

"This has been the plan for Carole's Destrier since he won the London National at Sandown," he told At The Races.

"He's got course and distance form. We've freshened him up, brought him back and he had a wind op in the meantime.

"You'd like think he's improved since he won the London National and you'd hope he can be competitive.

"It's unfortunate the three horses have to go for one race. It was 'Plan A' for The Young Master and Carole's Destrier and 'Plan B' for The Druids Nephew after the Grand National went wrong.

"You can make a case for the three of them. They have all got good form and entitled to go there and you'd think they could all run a nice race and just hope it stays dry.

"It's very difficult to pick just one of them. Carole's Destrier has got the form over the course and distance. The Young Master had a fantastic race at the Festival, finished third and The Druids Nephew is a much better horse on good ground. He's very fresh and very well.

"I don't mind which one it is. As long as one of them picks it up I'll be happy."

Le Reve completed the Grand National course in a distant 11th place and his trainer Lucy Wadham is looking forward to running the eight-year-old back at his favourite track and in a race in which he was third 12 months ago.

"He has come out of the National very well. He loves Sandown so we're looking forward to running him there," said the Newmarket handler.

"As always these races are very competitive, but he's in great form.

"Harry (Skelton) was not hard on him once his chance had gone and he has recovered very well."

Saint Are was pulled up before the final fence in the National after leading for some of the way.

The rain on the day ruined the 2015 runner-up's chances and his trainer Tom George believes the better ground will see him his true light as long as Aintree has not taken its toll.

"Visually and physically he looks to have come out of the National. Obviously you can't tell until he runs, but he's giving us all the right impressions," said the Slad handler.

"The ground went completely against him at Aintree and Paddy (Brennan) pulled him up and probably helped him a bit.

"We've kept him fresh and doing different things with him. Hopefully it will do the trick."

Hadrian's Approach, winner of this race in 2014, fell at the first fence in the National but then proceeded to jump the rest of the course loose.

"He's won the race before and ran very well in the Grand National, but unfortunately he didn't have a jockey on his back," said trainer Nicky Henderson.

"He ran the entire race on his own, which is a bit annoying. I wish he hadn't to be fair, but there you go.

"He seems fine, so we'll give it a go."

Bishops Road exited at the first fence in the Topham at Aintree, but his trainer Kerry Lee reports her Betfred Grand National Trial winner to be in great form.

"Things didn't quite go to plan at Aintree but he has come out of that absolutely bouncing," said the Presteigne trainer.

"He worked very well this week and we are hopeful but he will need the overnight rain on Friday.

"He is a winner of two races this season and although he has improved 24lb we don't know how good he is. We are looking forward to him next season whatever happens on Saturday."

Peter Bowen is hoping Henri Parry Morgan's brave effort when second to Native River in the Grade One Mildmay Novices' Chase has not left its mark.

"He seems in good form. It was a very good performance at Aintree. I just hope it hasn't taken the edge off him. You never know," said the Haverfordwest trainer.

"He looks to have come out of it really well anyway.

"He's been put up 1lb since, but still runs off his old mark of 149. Every pound helps both in the pocket and on your horse's back."

Colin Tizzard plans to get some last-minute jumping practice into Theatre Guide to put him razor shape for this big test after he blotted his copybook at the Cheltenham Festival.

"He fell at Cheltenham by halfway but the time before he'd won at Kempton (the BetBright Chase) by 10 lengths going away and we'd fancy our chances round there," said the Dorset handler.

"His jumping is a little but suspect. He just needs plenty of practice the day before so he gets his eye in.

"I don't think he'll mind the ground. When he won at Kempton it was good ground that day."