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CRUS AND BALL IN POWER FIELD

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Grands Crus and Hunt Ball are among 22 confirmations for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the first major handicap of the new National Hunt season.

David Pipe's grey disappointed when only fourth in the RSA Chase at the Festival on his final start of last year, but was subsequently reported to be a sick horse.

Hunt Ball was the success story of the season, rising 88lb in the handicap and finishing third in the Betfred Bowl on his final start of the season for fledgling trainer Keiran Burke.

GOSDEN EXPECTING TITLE BATTLE

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Newly-crowned champion trainer John Gosden admits defending his title next season will not be a straightforward task.

The Clarehaven handler finally landed the prize for the first time in his career after the curtain came down on the 2012 campaign at Doncaster on Saturday, beating Aidan O'Brien by a little over £160,000.

However, with some of his stable stars moving on, Gosden acknowledges he now needs to rebuild his team for next year.

"We're perfectly realistic about the fact that of the six individual Group One winners, four of them are retiring, so we know we have to build up again," he said.