MARTELL COGNAC CUP winner First Gold heads the weights on 12st for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National.

Gunner B, sire of the 2002 Grand National winner Red Marauder and 1992 Champion Hurdle hero Royal Gait, has died at the age of 30.

Hopefully the weather will relent sufficiently for Haydock Park to stage the Betdirect Peter Marsh Chase next Saturday, a three-mile event which often supplies a high-class winner and has in the past proved a good trial for the top prizes later in the season.

Next weekend is likely to see plenty of Cheltenham and Aintree clues on offer in two of the season’s chasing highlights so far.

Red Marauder, winner of the 2001 Martell Grand National, pleased his connections in his first serious piece of work of the season.

Cheltenham contenders Rince Ri and Shooting Light head the weights for the Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park on February 23.

Haydock 2pm:

All the leading contenders feature among the 43 entries revealed today for the £300,000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, with the level of entries five higher than last year.