PAUL NICHOLLS’ Big Buck’s is favourite Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury after he was declared among the 21 entries for the Grade Three Handicap.

Big Buck’s is a best-priced 5-1 chance with Coral, bet365, Stan James and BetDirect and heads a possible four-strong team for champion trainer Nicholls – who won the race with Denman last year – with My Will, Ornais and Dear Villez the others.

Big Buck’s main market rival is the Charlie Mann-trained Air Force One – a best-priced 13-2 with Coral and Paddy Power. Mann was pleased with the six-year-old’s second in the United House Gold Cup at Ascot on his seasonal return and he said: “He’s been jumping out of his skin since Ascot. I thought he ran a blinder that day as he normally improves for his first run. He has been trained specifically for this race and I could not be more pleased with him right now. He ticks all the right boxes and he is an improving horse.”

Meanwhile Black Apalachi will be aimed at another tilt at the John Smith’s Grand National after his excellent front-running success over the Aintree obstacles in Sunday’s Becher Chase.

Trainer Dessie Hughes said yesterday: “He was very good. He took to the fences and if horses do then they improve a stone.

“We’re not going to run him too often, two or three times possibly. Maybe I’ll run him over hurdles before the National as I don’t think we can afford to run him in handicap chases, or maybe put him in a conditions chase.”

TODAY’S NAP: Osolomio (3pm Lingfield).