Poquelin heads Gold weights

ANDY STEWART’S Poquelin will have to shrug off the burden of 11st 12lb if he is to provide his owner with victory in his own race, the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham on December 10.

Winner of the contest 12 months ago when he beat Great Endeavour (11st 1lb), he will need to defy a 5lb higher mark.

Stewart also has an interest in Ghizao (10st 12lb), whom he owns in partnership with David Johnson, the owner of Great Endeavour.

As well as Poquelin and Ghizao, Paul Nicholls could also run Woolcombe Folly (11st 8lb), Royal Charm (10st 3lb) and Aerial (9st 12lb).

David Pipe’s Great Endeavour landed the Paddy Power and came up just short in the Hennessy. Pipe may also be represented by I’msingingtheblues (10st 10lb), Matuhi (9st 13lb) and Salut Flo (9st 9lb).

Paddy Power Gold Cup runner-up Quantitativeeasing (10st 3lb) is one of five potential runners for Nicky Henderson alongside Nadiya De La Vega (10st), Surfing (10st 8lb), Forzy Origny (9st 12lb) and Aigle D’Or (9st 7lb).

Meanwhile, Nacarat is out of this weekend’s Grand Sefton Chase and he will tackle the Betfred Goals Galore Bonus Chase at Aintree instead.

The bold jumping 10-year-old won the Bowl at Liverpool in April and finished fourth on his return in the Charlie Hall Chase.

A trip to the Cheltenham Festival is on the agenda for Sivola De Sivola following his eyecatching success at Newbury last weekend.

The five-year-old strolled home by five lengths in a qualifier for the Pertemps Final in March.

However, trainer Tom George will also consider the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the showpiece event, although plans are unlikely to be decided in the near future.