Pipe waits with Atterbury

Martin Pipe is delaying making a decision on the participation of Martell Cognac Grand National third Lord Atterbury in Saturday’s Betfred Gold Cup, for which the sponsors make him 6-1 joint favourite with Shardam.

A total of 23 entries remain in the feature £150,000 (€226,000) contest, known most famously as the Whitbread Gold Cup but sponsored this year for the first time by bookmaker Fred Done.