Big-race heroes set to return

Last season’s Gold Cup winner Coneygree and Grand National hero Many Clouds could both return to action this weekend.

Coneygree has been entered for the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on Sunday, while Many Clouds is in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby the day before.

Mark Bradstock‘s Coneygree won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham as a novice last season in a race in which Many Clouds finished sixth.

The Carlisle race, over two-and-a-half miles, will potentially be a competitive affair with Paul Nicholls having entered Saphir Du Rheu, Ptit Zig and Virak.

Also in the race are The Young Master, Puffin Billy, God’s Own, Cold March, Enchanted Garden, Grate Fella, Horizontal Speed,Midnight Belle, Ned Stark and Wakanda.

Many Clouds won the Carlisle race 12 months ago before taking the Hennessy Gold Cup and Newbury could again be on the agenda for the Aintree hero after Wetherby.

The Charlie Hall, a Grade Two race over three miles, has attracted 11 runners on Saturday and is shaping up to be a top-class contest.

Last year’s winner Menorah is entered, along with three-time Grade 1-winning chaser Cue Card, who had a recent work-out at Wincanton.

Gold Cup fourth Holywell has been entered by Jonjo O’Neill, while David Pipe has a couple of intriguing possibles in the shape of Dynaste and Ballynagour.

Nicholls also still has two in the race – Rocky Creek and Sam Winner – while Rebecca Curtis has two in Irish Cavalier and The Romford Pele. Alderbrook Lad completes the list.