Hanlon has high hopes for Hidden Cyclone
He said: “There will be a nice cut in the ground for him and I think our lad will handle it.
Hidden Cyclone was backed “to the exclusion of all others” on Wednesday, according to Paddy Power
“There’s been a few quid for him and after a drop of rain, I’m hoping the ground will suit him more than a lot of the other horses, ” said Hanlon.
Henry de Bromhead’s Days Hotel is the other Irish raider in the seven runner field.
Sire De Grugy bids to complete a hat-trick of notable victories this season in the race.
The eight-year-old gave trainer Gary Moore a first Grade One triumph when lifting the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in early December and then took full advantage of Sprinter Sacre being pulled up to capture the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.
Somersby’s sole success at the top level came in this contest in 2012. He was also third to Sprinter Sacre last winter when the race was run at Cheltenham.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Stone, Evan Williams’ Lancetto and Colin Tizzard’s Oiseau De Nuit complete the seven runners.
