GRAND National favourite Young Kenny heads a high class field of nine horses in the £100,000 De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock Park this Saturday (February 26) at today's confirmation stage.

All but one, the bottom weight Choisty, are also engaged in the National at Aintree on April 8.

So the De Vere Gold Cup seems sure to offer some serious clues to the outcome of the Aintree showpiece.

Last year, Young Kenny won the De Vere (then the Greenalls Grand National Trial) by 13 lengths from Fiddling The Facts, who was conceding the winner 12 pounds. On Saturday, the mare will be 22 pounds better off at the weights with Young Kenny.

Both will have to contend with course specialist The Last Fling, who has landed both the Bet Direct Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase and the Bet Direct Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park this season. Though stepping up in trip for this three and a half mile handicap, a hat-trick of big Haydock chases could be very much on the cards. Tullymurry Toff was touched off a short head by The Last Fling in the Bet Direct Edward Hanmer and will be looking for revenge this time. Niki Dee narrowly failed to win the Great Yorkshire Chase on his last start and could join stablemate Young Kenny in the line-up, while Star Traveller, twice a winner at Cheltenham this season, is Henry Daly's selected runner from four entries.

Feels Like Gold has already staked his Aintree claim by winning the Becher Chase there back in November, while Hollybank Buck, winner of the Eider Chase last season, will make the journey over from Ireland for trainer Tony Martin, successful with Its Himself at the last Haydock meeting. Hollybank Buck flopped when well fancied for the Welsh National in December, but is reported back to form by his shrewd handler whose raids in Britain must always be feared.

"It's a really competitive field and has all the makings of a great race, especially with a star like Young Kenny taking part", commented Haydock Park's racing manager Lisa Rowe.

"We should have a strong supporting card as well, with several leading Triumph Hurdle contenders in the De Vere Victor Ludorum Hurdle and a cracking entry for the Green Health and Fitness Handicap Chase".

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