News Annacotty leads entries for Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Annacotty leads entries for Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham

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Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Annacotty is among an initial entry of 41 for next month's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup back at Cheltenham.

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Annacotty is among an initial entry of 41 for next month's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup back at Cheltenham.

On his first start for Alan King since leaving Martin Keighley, Annacotty stayed on bravely up the hill to land the big pot, holding off Buywise.

The two may meet again, with Annacotty looking to complete a double last achieved by Exotic Dancer in 2006.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has won three of the last six renewals and could run Sound Investment, Salubrious and Art Mauresque.

Nicholls' Irish counterpart Willie Mullins has entered Valseur Lido and Gitane Du Berlais among others, with Texas Jack and Lyreen Legend other Irish possibles.

Wishfull Thinking and Smad Place are likely to be towards the head of the weights, which are revealed on December 2.

Martin Todhunter has entered his prolific winner Presenting Junior, who will run over hurdles this weekend in preparation.

"Presenting Junior is due to run in the French Furze Novices' Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday and, providing all that goes well and he is in the handicap, he will go to Cheltenham afterwards," said Todhunter.

"He made tremendous progress last season but picked up a slight injury and was forced to miss an autumn target. We are just keeping our powder dry over hurdles to protect his mark over fences.

"I think the track and trip at Cheltenham will be absolutely ideal for him. He will hopefully get the strongly-run race he needs and we know he stays further. It should suit him well."