WITH 13 horses declared at the five day stage, the Whitbread Gold Cup picture began to clear yesterday ahead of Saturday's Sandown highlight. Trainer Robert Alner has engaged Tony McCoy to ride Flyer's Nap with dual Whitbread winning jockey Charlie Swan booked for Bishops Hall and amateur Rupert Nuttall for the enigmatic Harwell Lad.

The Whitbread could be set for its smallest field in recent years. A total of eight were taken out at the noon declaration stage, most notably Go Ballistic and Inchcailloch.

Following the defection of Master Oats, Barton Bank is left to carry top weight of 11st 10lb. He will be ridden by David Walsh, who has made the news by failing a random drug test since his victory on the gelding in the Martell Cup Chase