Twelve in line to tackle Tizzard's star duo in Gold Cup

Colin Tizzard may have lost Finian's Oscar from his Cheltenham Festival squad, but a look at the confirmations for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup should cheer him up with his joint favourites Cue Card and Native River joined by just 12 potential opponents.

Djakadam and the Gordon Elliot-trained Outlander also remain engaged while the door was left open for Empire Of Dirt, a leading contender for the Ryanair Chase, to run in Friday's festival highlight instead.

Perfect Candidate was among those taken out of the Gold Cup and he will head straight to Aintree for the Randox Health Grand National on April 8.

"The horse is in great form," trainer Fergal O'Brien said. "He needed to win at Exeter last time to persuade us to go to Aintree. He is the right age [ten] for Aintree and has the right profile."

Friday's Cheltenham card in full

Friday's card at Cheltenham also includes the JCB Triumph Hurdle and Divin Bere will not run in that, but is bound for the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, while Let's Dance - entered in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, OLBG Mares' Hurdle, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle - has had her options reduced as Willie Mullins did not confirm her for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, although he does still have 14 horses entered in that race.

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