Just four face Commander Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander will face just four rivals in the totesport Bowl at Aintree on Thursday. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained nine-year-old was a brilliant winner of steeplechasing's blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival, and will now bid to sign off his season with a third career Grade One victory. The two horses reopposing from the Gold Cup line-up are Carruthers, who shaped with promise to finish fourth, and Henrietta Knight's Calgary Bay, who was sixth. Paul Nicholls' top two chasing stars Kauto Star and Denman are not in attendance, but the champion trainer is still represented by What A Friend, off the track since winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. The field is completed by Tom George's Nacarat, who was a brave second in the Racing Post Chase in February. Big Buck's will face eight rivals as he bids to secure back-to-back victories in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle on the same card. The seven-year-old heads to Aintree off the back of a brilliant second success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and is sure to be long odds-on as he chases an eighth successive win. World Hurdle runner-up Time For Rupert and Tidal Bay, who was a disappointing seventh, are also declared to run. Emma Lavelle's Bouggler returns to the scene of his finest hour having won a Grade Two novice event at this meeting 12 months ago. Kayf Aramis, Possol, Silver Token, Souffleur and Wolf Moon complete the field.
