Find out where hot Arkle favourite Sir Gino is entered on Saturday - including a potential thriller in open company

Sir Gino is on course to put his Cheltenham Festival credentials to the test in Saturday's William Hill Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Odds-on for the My Pension Expert Arkle after just one run over fences, Sir Gino could face the likes of Matata, JPR One, Edwardstone and Djelo in a possible field of seven as he bids to become the first five-year-old since Master Minded in 2008 to land the Game Spirit.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, Sir Gino also holds an entry in Saturday's Unibet Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick, but his trainer stressed over the weekend that Newbury is very much plan A.

"Sir Gino is in great form," said Henderson. "I'll put him in at Warwick as well as Newbury but the great thing is the weather forecast for the week is lovely, so we might be looking at some nice ground. Newbury is the plan but we're in at Warwick as a back up."

L'Eau Du Sud: Grade 1-winning novice entered at WarwickCredit: Edward Whitaker

Even without Sir Gino, the Kingmaker should provide plenty of its own festival clues, with Grade 1-winning chaser L'Eau Du Sud entered alongside Casa No Mento, Riskintheground, Rubaud and Tedley for his final start before the Arkle.

A field of 23 stood their ground for the £155,000 William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Newbury, including market leaders Secret Squirrel and Joyeuse, but Golden Ace misses the race in favour of the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday week, also the target of Newbury absentee Burdett Road.  

Former King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame and his Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Hitman feature among eight entries for Saturday's Grade 2 William Hill Denman Chase.

Game Spirit Chase entries

Djelo Venetia Williams
Edwardstone Alan King
JPR One Joe Tizzard
Libberty Hunter Evan Williams
Master Chewy Nigel Twiston-Davies
Matata Nigel Twiston-Davies
Sir Gino Nicky Henderson

Kingmaker Novices' Chase entries

Casa No Mento Nigel Twiston-Davies
L'Eau Du Sud Dan Skelton
Riskintheground Dan Skelton
Rubaud Paul Nicholls
Sir Gino Nicky Henderson
Tedley Nigel Twiston-Davies

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