Denman will face 17 rivals in Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Paul Nicholls' imposing seven-year-old will have to shoulder 11st 12lb as he bids to emulate Trabolgan, who won under top weight in 2005.

Juveigneur, who represents Trabolgan's trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Trevor Hemmings, is next on the list and will bid to go one better than last year when he chased home State Of Play.

David Pipe is triple-handed in his bid to land a first Hennessy, a race his father, Martin, won three times.

Badger Ales Trophy winner Abragante, the mount of Davy Russell, will lead the charge while Dom D'Orgeval will be partnered by last year's winning rider Paul Moloney and rising star Paddy Merrigan will be aboard Madison Du Berlais.

The Irish challenge is headed by Willie Mullins' Snowy Morning, who finished second to Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival.

Dessie Hughes runs 2003 winner Strong Flow while Tony Martin also lets Patsy Hall take his chance. Irish National winner Point Barrow is also in the line-up.

Ferdy Murphy, fresh from the big-race success of L'Antartique, relies on New Alco and John Quinn sends Character Building from the north.

Knowhere, third in the Paddy Power for Nigel Twiston-Davies, steps up to three miles and two furlongs while recent Cheltenham winner Sir Rembrandt, Always Waining, Dream Alliance, D'Argent, Bible Lord and Bowleaze complete the line-up.

The ground grew more testing towards the end of Friday's card and further rain is forecast.

"It looks like they are talking about eight to 10 millimetres (of evening rain),'' said clerk of the course Richard Osgood.

"There's showers from the word go tomorrow but because there will be a blustery wind, they should move through quite quickly.

"There will probably be around two to four millimetres so we might be quite lucky.''

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