Vibrato Valtat on song for Greatwood Gold Cup

Connections of Vibrato Valtat are hoping the Grade One winner can register his first success since November 2015 when he makes a rare appearance out of open company in the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury.

The Paul Nicholls-trained grey bids to go one better than at Warwick on his latest start, where he found Templemills seven lengths too good on his first handicap appearance in a steeplechase.

Though the 2014 Henry VIII Novices' Chase winner has top weight, his burden will be reduced by 5lb in the William Hill-sponsored contest thanks to the services of 5lb claimer Stan Sheppard.

"We're very happy with him. He came out of Warwick fine and this looks an ideal race for him," said Dan Downie, racing manager to owners Axom.

"Obviously he's been running in competitive races for the last three years. This is competitive as well, but it looks to give him more of a chance.

"Stan Sheppard is a great booking and his 5lb allowance will help.

"The horse wears blinkers not for any reason except we thought we'd try something different, but he seems in good heart and we're hoping for a good run."

Nicholls also saddles More Buck's and the Ditcheat handler said: "He was running very well behind Double Shuffle at Kempton, but didn't really get the three miles that day.

"He's had a little break, but he wouldn't want it too soft. The same would apply to Vibrato Valtat.

"It's a nice race. We've won it eight times, but we would like it to stay dry if possible."

Thomas Crapper once ran Vibrato Valtat to a length off level weights and now receives over a stone from his old rival. His trainer Robin Dickin is praying there is not a deluge of rain to destroy Thomas Crapper's hopes.

"It could well rain on his parade again," said Dickin.

"While I don't think it stopped him winning anyway as he was in pretty classy races at Cheltenham, he was two or three places further back than he would have been on better ground.

"I'd say he's very well handicapped when you think of Vibrato Valtat when they met at Warwick. It was a long time ago (November 2014) over two miles and there was just a length between them (off level weights). That's how well handicapped we are.

"I just hope it doesn't get too wet. If it is, he won't run. If the weather is kind and he runs off that mark I don't see why he shouldn't be in there as a major player. He's in very good health."

Tom Symonds is another trainer who does not want conditions to deteriorate too much for Hollywoodien, who is having his first race for seven weeks.

"I hope they don't get too much rain. He's had a break simply because we wanted to give him one," said the Ross-on-Wye trainer.

"He's in good form and he'd have a good chance if he could reproduce his last run.

"It was a very good run behind a good horse in Garde La Victoire over a trip short of his best and on ground probably soft enough for him.

"He looks very well and I'm very pleased with him. He's still only six. We don't want to go to the well too often so we are picking and choosing our targets."

Some rain would not dampen the claims of Oldgrangewood, though his trainer Dan Skelton would not want too much, either.

"He comes into the race in good form and the track will suit him," said Skelton.

"If the ground turns soft it would not be an inconvenience. I don't want it heavy and I don't think it will come to that. They have got rain forecast, but not a bundle."

Dresden was two and a half lengths behind Oldgrangewood at Warwick four weeks ago, but reopposes on better terms.

"He's come out of his last race in very good form and I wouldn't have put him in otherwise, but there weren't many other options for him," said his trainer Henry Oliver.

"He doesn't have an entry at Cheltenham so we wanted to put him in now, as our aim is the Topham at Aintree. He'll have a little time after this.

"He's really well after last week and he runs back quickly OK. He copes with that well and I'm very pleased with him.

"He's got a decent pull with the favourite (Oldgrangewood) and I think he'll run a big race."

Tom George feels O Maonlai's liking for Newbury will stand him in good stead as the nine-year-old attempts to put behind him a poor run at Haydock.

"He's in good form and he loves the track, which is a good start. He won well at the Hennessy meeting there and there aren't many races for him," said the Slad handler.

"We ran him at Haydock last time but it was too sharp for him. He needs a big, open, galloping track so he will be totally at home back at Newbury and he's in good form."

Tornado In Milan had a confidence-boosting win over hurdles at Wincanton a month ago, which his trainer Evan Williams hopes will have a positive effect as the 11-year-old reverts to the bigger obstacles.

"It's a competitive race, but there's good prize-money so we thought we'd give it a go," said the Llancarfan handler.

"He won over hurdles last time and it's back over fences, so we'll see how we get on. He did it well the last day, but I don't know how good a race it was."