Denman (centre) could face Nacarat, Niche Market and Air Force One

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Denman could face eight rivals in Aon Chase

NACARAT, Niche Market and Air Force One could all take on Denman in Saturday's Aon Chase at Newbury, as it was confirmed on Tuesday that nine horses have been entered.

Denman's trainer Paul Nicholls also has Tricky Trickster in the mix, while other possible opponents for the 2008 Totesport Gold Cup hero include Ollie Magern and Irish-trained Siegemaster.

Declarations for the race are made on Friday morning.

Talented but fragile chaser Air Force One, who missed the Hennessy Gold Cup with an injury to the hind area, has been out of action since being pulled up in the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown festival last April.

"I need to get a race in to him and if the ground is all right I'll run him in the Aon, but he wants goodish ground," trainer Charlie Mann told At The Races on Tuesday.

"Hopefully, he'll go to Doncaster for the Grimthorpe [Chase on March 5] and then the Irish, English or Scottish National."

Regular rider Noel Fehily is sidelined with an ongoing shoulder injury and when quizzed about a jockey booking for Saturday, Mann added: "I haven't got a clue - but it would be nice to get a jockey to ride in his three races."