Denman to take on five in Bowl
His second Hennessy victory was his only success since winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2008, but he has finished second in the last three Gold Cups to Kauto Star, Imperial Commander and Long Run respectively.
Paul Nicholls’ 11-year-old has only run once on Merseyside when he fell at the second-last in this race in 2009.
Following Nicky Henderson’s statement on Saturday that Long Run would miss the Bowl, the Seven Barrows stable are still strongly represented by Punchestowns and Carole’s Legacy.
This season has not really gone to plan for Punchestowns but he at least got back to winning ways last time out.
Carole’s Legacy was last seen going down narrowly to Bensalem at Cheltenham.
Tom George has plumped for the three-mile event, rather than Friday’s two-and-a-half-mile Melling Chase, for Nacarat.
The bold-jumping grey was third in the Bowl last year and third in the Melling 12 months previously.
Evan Williams faced the same choice of races for Deep Purple and has also decided on the longer assignment.
The field is completed by the Irish challenger Follow The Plan.
Among those not declared are the Nicholls duo of Neptune Collonges and What A Friend, with the latter going for the National.
Bensalem, Voy Por Ustedes and Midnight Chase were also missing from the final field.
Midnight Chase’s trainer Neil Mulholland was not convinced the Gold Cup fifth had recovered from his exertions at Cheltenham.
“I just felt he was a bit flat and he just needed a rest. They are not machines,” said Mulholland.
“It was very, very tempting, especially when there were only four in it at 9.30am and it got me thinking if we were doing the right thing, but he just needs to be freshened up.
“We’ll save him for the October, November and December meetings at Cheltenham and try and go down the same route again.
“He needs to be fresh so he’ll go out to grass.”
