THE old Gold Cup it may not be, but the feature Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.50) at Newbury is still a major prize to bag for connections and with the top two runners set to race off marks of 155, followed by 151 and 150, this looks a fair renewal if not an outstanding one.

Fanion D’Estruval carries that top weight for the in form Venetia Williams’s yard and he is a horse of some potential, but the problem is that even on this better ground, three-and-a-quarter miles is an unknown, and could stretch his stamina to the limit.

At the other end of the weights, Lord Accord has put in two solid jumping performances, winning snugly at Cheltenham before a cracking second to the legend that is Frodon in the Handicap Chase at Wincanton.