Gloria Victis topped a bumper entry unveiled today for the final Whitbread Gold Cup.
Last month's runaway Racing Post Chase winner, confirmed a runner in the Cheltenham Gold Cup by Martin Pipe yesterday, is among 82 horses put in the Sandown race, which will be run for the 44th and last time on April 29.
It is the second highest entry ever for the 29{-furlong contest, beaten only by last year's initial field of 98.
A #100,000 bonus offered if a horse makes the first four in the Martell Grand National and goes on to land the Whitbread has seen most of the leading Aintree hopes entered, including Bobbyjo, Edmond and Young Kenny.
Many entries are set to run at Cheltenham next week, including Gold Cup contenders Go Ballistic and Spendid and the novices Beau and Kings' Road.
But weights for the #115,000 handicap are published next Wednesday and will not take Festival form into account, nor are there any penalties for subsequent winners.
Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "For the first time this year Whitbread day will officially bring down the curtain on the National Hunt season and these entries promise a fantastic finale."
