Weekend wonders: Present Man and Bryony Frost among star-studded cast

Present Man is among 14 confirmed runners for Wincanton’s Badger Beers Silver Trophy (3.35) on Saturday, with the Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old bidding to win the Listed contest for the third year in a row. He will once again join forces with Bryony Frost, who was on board for both those victories.

Nicholls will also be represented by Give Me A Copper, last seen finishing fourth behind Talkischeap in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

The Young Master was second on that day, and Neil Mulholland’s popular veteran is also set to line up in a bid to land the race in which he was disqualified five years ago.

The Young Master (left) is denied by Talkischeap in last season's bet365 Gold Cup at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Rock The Kasbah, White Moon and Just A Sting have also been declared.

Earlier on the card is the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle (3.00), headlined by Fusil Raffles who last season roared home to win the Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown festival. The Nicky Henderson-trained runner faces five rivals including Grand Sancy.

Doncaster's November Handicap meeting cancelled after torrential rain

The Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices' Chase (2.25) also features at Wincanton, and dual top-level winner Reserve Tank is the standout in the six-runner field.

He looks to get off the mark over fences after finishing second at Chepstow last month, and goes up against Nicholls’ If You Say Run and Solomon Grey, who has won both his starts over fences.

Reserve Tank won the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last seasonCredit: Alain Barr

At Aintree ten have been declared for the 2m4f handicap chase, which is now set to go off at 2.05 with the meeting’s schedule rearranged to suit ITV after Doncaster’s November Handicap meeting was lost due to a waterlogged track.

The earlier start time should negate fears of low sun as Riders Onthe Storm makes his stable debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies, having fallen in the Close Brothers at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, and reopposes The Russian Doyen, who finished third on that day.

Mares’ Hurdle scorer Roksana also makes her seasonal return at the track where she was narrowly denied by If The Cap Fits in the Liverpool Hurdle. She tackles the 2m4f hurdle (3.15) against four rivals including 2017 Scilly Isles winner Top Notch and Vision Des Flos.

Harry Skelton celebrates Roksana's Mares' Hurdle victory at last season's Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

In Ireland, Maghull winner Ornua returns to action for Henry de Bromhead in the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase at Naas (1.05) in a field of five, but Ballymore scorer City Island will be a notable absentee having not been declared for the 2m3f beginners chase. Trainer Martin Brassil cited the ground being too soft as the reason for his decision.

Looking ahead to Sunday, and a galaxy of stars are poised to appear on an attractive card at Navan.

Apple’s Jade looks to put her disappointing end to last season behind her in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle (1.05) for Gordon Elliott, but will be ridden for the first time by Robbie Power.

The jockey has only three wins from 52 rides for Elliott in his career and will be hoping to overcome four rivals aboard the likely odds-on shot.

Cheltenham Festival winners collide in the Fortria Chase (2.10) as Racing Post Arkle hero Duc Des Genievres battles Close Brothers king A Plus Tard.

Duc Des Genievres jumps the last on his way to winning the Racing Post ArkleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hot hurdlers Melon and Fakir D’Oudairies make their first starts over fences in the 2m1f beginners chase (3.15), having gone close in a number of Grade 1s last season. They will be opposed by 11.

Over at Sandown, RSA Chase second Santini is one of four to be declared for the 3m intermediate chase (2.25), but faces stiff competition from the Alan King-trained Talkischeap.

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