Venn among entries for Newbury contest

Venn Ottery, who holds lofty entries at Cheltenham and Aintree, could have his first run for Martin Pipe at Newbury on Saturday.

He is among 24 horses in the £100,000 (€145,500) Vodafone Gold Cup Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.

The 10-year-old, owned by Oliver Carter and formerly in his care, is in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and the John Smith’s Grand National.

Pipe has also entered It Takes Time, winner of the totesport Chase at Lingfield recently, in the Newbury contest, as well as Horus, who was seventh to Farmer Jack in Saturday’s Racing Post Chase.

Jonjo O’Neill is double-handed at this stage with Knife Edge and Simply Gifted, while Nicky Henderson can choose from Chauvinist and Scots Grey.

Other interesting possibles include Francois Doumen’s First Gold, Buckby Lane from Paul Webber’s stable, the Henry Daly-trained Hand Inn Hand, who was third to It Takes Time at Lingfield, and Grand National winner Amberleigh House.