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11 STAND GROUND AGAINST BUSINESS

See More Business will face a maximum of 11 rivals in the inaugural running of the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday, for which five-day declarations were made today.

Paul Nicholls' charge will use the £50,000 contest as his prep race before he attempts to defend his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in March.

Possible rivals include stablemate Courlis Pontet, the progressive Bobby Grant, Martell Grand National hope The Grey Monk, and 1998 Gold Cup runner-up Strong Promise.

Nicholls told the Racing Channel: "See More Business is fine, he cantered as normal this morning and he's all ready to go Saturday."

The trainer acknowledged that See More Business' Gold Cup rival Florida Pearl had caught his eye when winning at Leopardstown on Sunday.

"Florida Pearl was very impressive yesterday but I'm not sure the Irish form is quite as hot as Looks Like Trouble and See More's up to now.

"But he was impressive - he jumped well and stayed on very well yesterday."

Nicky Henderson's Fiddling The Facts is also among the 12 entries but will not take her chance in the race.

The trainer said: "She was put in that in case there was going to be two runners but she won't run.

"The De Vere Gold Cup was the original plan."

The mare has not been seen out since being pulled up in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow in December.

"Her blood picture wasn't quite right and it was a week when one or two were just a bit off but she seems to be in such good form now that I think she'll be back," Henderson added.

Nicholls' Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Flagship Uberalles is one of eight entries for the Grade Two Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase on the same card.

Last year's winner Celibate is among the declarations, as is Victor Chandler Chase hero Nordance Prince.

Nicholls has also entered Irbee and Rockforce, an impressive winner of the Elmbridge Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Of the latter Nicholls said: "He's in great order and I was very pleased with him on Saturday.

"I've actually entered him in the Game Spirit just in case the ground came up very, very heavy and we didn't want to run Flagship Uberalles."