CHELTENHAM: Last year's winner Denman is one of 16 horses declared for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.
The nine-year-old comes into this year's renewal on the back of a disappointing comeback at Kempton last month after suffering from a heart problem earlier in the campaign.
His stablemate and 2007 Gold Cup hero Kauto Star will bid to become the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup after losing the title when finishing second 12 months ago.
Neptune Collonges, who finished third in 2008, also represents trainer Paul Nicholls along with My Will and Star De Mohaison.
Jonjo O'Neill is double-handed with both Albertas Run and Exotic Dancer standing their ground in the blue riband event, while Barbers Shop runs for Nicky Henderson in the colours of the Queen.
Hennessy Gold Cup one-two Madison Du Berlais and Air Force One both take part, while Cerium, Knowhere, Miko De Beauchene, Roll Along, Halcon Genelardais and Snoopy Loopy complete the line-up.
The only absentee following the five-day confirmations was War Of Attrition, who suffered a setback earlier in the week.
Paul Carberry has been booked for Star de Mohaison, who was a late absentee from yesterday's William Hill Trophy because of the soft ground.
"We're just going to see if the ground dries up a little bit for him," said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Robert Ogden.
"Paul Carberry has been booked to ride him."
The owner will also be represented by Exotic Dancer, who missed side-stepped the re-scheduled Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown as connections felt it was too close to Cheltenham.
"He's in great shape," added Simpson.
"He would have gone for the Hennessy, then the weather set in and we felt it was taking too many risks being three and a bit weeks to the Gold Cup. It was cutting it a bit fine."