Vic set for Cheltenham repeat

Our Vic tops a list of 23 horses left in Saturday’s Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup at the five-day confirmation stage.

Martin Pipe’s seven-year-old lifted the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last time and he could bid for a big-race double at Prestbury Park.

Our Vic is one of four entries for Pipe along with It Takes Time, Therealbandit and Tango Royal but the Pond House handler has taken out Celestial Gold.

Last year’s second Thisthatandtother could try to improve a place for Paul Nicholls while stablemate Armaturk could take his chance again after finishing fourth in 2004.

The well-fancied Bold Bishop has not been confirmed by trainer Jonjo O’Neill but he still has Quazar, Risk Accessor, Tigers Lair and Halexy engaged in the totesport-sponsored event.

Other interesting contenders include a revitalised Scots Grey, one of three from Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard along with 2002 winner Fondmort and Iris Royal.

Richard Guest is set to run Our Armageddon, who will be having his first start since finishing fourth at Aintree in April 2004, while last year’s third Europa has been confirmed by Ferdy Murphy.