Conflated retains place in Gold Cup at six-day stage

Conflated standing his ground in the Gold Cup field was the big story to come out of the six-day declarations for Friday.

The Irish Gold Cup winner also holds an entry in the Ryanair earlier in the week and while the owner’s reportedly want to go for the intermediate trip, trainer Gordon Elliott has revealed he would rather go for glory in the Blue Riband of jump-racing. “It’s grand to win the Ryanair, but the Gold Cup is the Gold Cup,” Elliot said recently.

A notable absentee from the Gold Cup field was Ahoy Senor (pictured) who now looks set to take on fellow novices on Wednesday in the Festival Novices’ Chase.

Only 13 remain in the Triumph but the three big guns - Vauban, Pied Piper, and Fil D’or - all remain at this stage.

Good Time Jonny was the only supplementary entry for day four. Tony Martin’s seven-year-old is set to run in the Albert Bartlett.

Put The Kettle On will bid to defend her Champion Chase crown. She was the most notable absentee in the Mares’ Chase on Friday where just 10 remain. Last year’s runner-up, Elimay, remains the favourite for the penultimate race of the Festival.