The first three home in the BetVictor Gold Cup, Baron Alco, Frodon and Guitar Pete, have all been entered in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup back at Cheltenham on December 15.
Baron Alco, trained by Gary Moore and ridden by his son Jamie, made all for a brave two-length verdict in the highlight of The November Meeting last month and is set to bid to become the fourth horse to follow up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in the same season after Pegwell Bay (1988), Senor El Betrutti (1997) and Exotic Dancer (2006).
Frodon (Paul Nicholls) and Guitar Pete (Nicky Richards) have already tasted glory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, having won the 2016 and 2017 renewals respectively.
They are out to emulate the only previous dual winner of the race, Poquelin, who was successful in 2009 and 2010 for Nicholls.
The former champion trainer is the most successful handler in the race with four wins, and is responsible for seven entries in total this time around, including Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase victor Le Prezien and San Benedeto.
Nicky Henderson has four engaged including Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase runner-up Rather Be, who was brought down when travelling well in the BetVictor Gold Cup, and recentAscot third Gold Present.
Robert Walford is hoping that Mr Medic can continue his progress in the showcase handicap. The lightly-raced seven-year-old made it five wins from eight starts over fences when comfortably beating Flying Angel at Ascot over the weekend - his first appearance in 11 months.
The trainer said: "Mr Medic has come out of his run at Ascot at the weekend in good form. He was very good at Ascot and jumped really well throughout the race. James Best gave him a lovely ride. I think Mr Medic will come on for that race as I thought he would need it.
"I think, all being well with him in the next couple of weeks, the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup would be the right race for him. We had the race in mind even before Ascot as he seems to like this trip."
Also entered are Baron Alco's stable-companion Benatar, who was third in the JLT Novices' Chase and Aso (Venetia Williams), who filled the same position in the 2017 Ryanair Chase as well as finishing runner-up in the 2016 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.
Two local trainers, Ben Pauling and Nigel Twiston-Davies, could be represented with the former entering Willoughby Court, who is due to reappear at Newbury on Friday.
Twiston-Davies has entered both Splash Of Ginge, who won the 2017 BetVictor Gold Cup on soft ground and came seventh the following month in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, and Foxtail Hill, sixth last year and a dual winner over fences at Cheltenham.
Other entries include Beggar's Wishes (Peter Bowen) and Marienstar (Neil King), with both seven-year-olds going for a fourth consecutive win, plus Forest Bihan (Brian Ellison), third in the Shloer Chase at The November Meeting.
