Menorah tops the weights for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 15th.

The nine-year-old captured the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2010 and recorded his biggest victory over fences when taking the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last Saturday.

His trainer Philip Hobbs is also responsible for last season's Paddy Power Gold Cup runner-up Colour Squadron, who is one of seven potential runners for owner J P McManus.

Another McManus entry is the Charles Byrnes-trained Shanpallas. He has been in good form over the summer and was purchased by McManus after a close third to Your Busy in the Kerry National at Listowel in September. It proved a shrewd piece of business as the six-year-old was the decisive winner of the valuable Munster National over three miles at Limerick last month, holding off Tom Horn by three quarters of a length.

Byrnes reported: "I expect Shanpallas will be left in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the five-day stage but we have made no decision about his participation at the moment. Obviously, J.P. has several others in the race and I still have to speak to Frank (Berry, racing manager) and the team.

"Shanpallas has been in terrific form since Limerick and I would be keen to run, although the form of that race has not worked out brilliantly. I would not be concerned about the drop back in trip as I think he is more of a two and a half miler than a three miler.

"He has been to Cheltenham before but the ground was very heavy that day and he landed quite steep over the first and got behind. He is a different horse on good ground."

There are six other Irish-trained entries, including four from the stable of Ireland's champion jump trainer Willie Mullins. The Closutton quartet are Champagne Fever, Ballycasey, Felix Yonger and The Paparrazi Kid.

The sponsor's ante-post market is headed at 7/1 by Present View, a winner over the course and distance at Cheltenham last March, and Cheltenham specialist Oscar Whisky, one of five entries for trainer Nicky Henderson.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Paddy Power Gold Cup is next Monday, November 10th. Next Monday is also the confirmation date for the StanJames.com Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, which will be run at Cheltenham on Sunday week, November 16th. The Henderson-trained Vaniteux is the early 9/2 favourite for this two-mile feature with the sponsors. His trainer has five other entries.

The weights for both races are listed below.

THE PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE

£160,000 total prize fund, Cheltenham, Saturday, November 15, 2014. Two miles, four and a half furlongs. Maximum field of 20 plus 2 reserves.

Horse Age Wgt Owner Trainer

MENORAH (IRE) 9 11-12 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 8 11-04 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies

WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 6 11-03 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls

TAQUIN DU SEUIL (FR) 7 11-03 Martin Broughton & Friends 1 Jonjo O'Neill

RAJDHANI EXPRESS (GB) 7 11-02 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson

CHAMPAGNE FEVER (IRE) 7 11-02 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

UXIZANDRE (FR) 6 11-02 J P McManus Alan King

ROLLING ACES (IRE) 8 11-00 David Martin, Paul Barber & Ian Fogg Paul Nicholls

OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) 9 11-00 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nicky Henderson

JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 7 11-00 Christopher Johnston Jonjo O'Neill

HUNT BALL (IRE) 9 10-13 Atlantic Equine Nicky Henderson

BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 8 10-13 Allan Stennett David Pipe

BALLYCASEY (IRE) 7 10-13 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

RUBI LIGHT (FR) 9 10-12 W Hennessy Robert Hennessy IRE

FELIX YONGER (IRE) 8 10-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE

COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 8 10-10 J P McManus Philip Hobbs

EDGARDO SOL (FR) 7 10-08 Axom XXXII Emma Lavelle

CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 9 10-07 M Boothright Martin Keighley

KAPGA DE CERISY (FR) 6 10-06 A Brooks Venetia Williams

FAGO (FR) 6 10-06 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls

EASTER METEOR (GB) 8 10-06 Mr & Mrs S C Willes David Pipe

SHANPALLAS (IRE) 6 10-05 J P McManus Charles Byrnes IRE

CANTLOW (IRE) 9 10-05 J P McManus Paul Webber

EASTLAKE (IRE) 8 10-04 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

MR MOLE (IRE) 6 10-04 J P McManus Paul Nicholls

BUYWISE (IRE) 7 10-04 T Hywel Jones Evan Williams

BEAR'S AFFAIR (IRE) 8 10-03 G B Barlow Nicky Henderson

PRESENT VIEW (GB) 6 10-02 Sir Chips Keswick Jamie Snowden

ATTAGLANCE (GB) 8 10-01 Mrs H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson

CAID DU BERLAIS (FR) 5 10-01 Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald & C Barber Paul Nicholls

MANYRIVERSTOCROSS (IRE) 9 10-01 Mrs M C Sweeney Alan King

HOLLOW PENNY (GB) 6 10-00 David Sewell Alan King

PERSIAN SNOW (IRE) 8 9-13 D R Peppiatt Philip Hobbs

THE PAPARRAZI KID (IRE) 7 9-13 Byerley Thoroughbred Racing Willie Mullins IRE

INDIAN CASTLE (IRE) 6 9-12 Askew Dick Hernon Reynard Ian Williams

CEDRE BLEU (FR) 7 9-11 Tangledupinblue Charlie Mann

ONE TERM (IRE) 7 9-10 Miss L Reid & G Costelloe Rebecca Curtis

ORPHEUS VALLEY (IRE) 11 9-09 No Horse Box Syndicate Tom Gibney IRE

ERICHT (IRE) 8 9-09 Mrs Christopher Hanbury Nicky Henderson

ASTRACAD (FR) 8 9-09 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies

SHANGANI (USA) 8 9-07 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams

LAMOOL (GER) 7 9-06 J H Frost Tim Vaughan

FESTIVE AFFAIR (IRE) 6 9-04 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

KING MASSINI (IRE) 8 9-03 Border Pointers Evan Williams

NO BUTS (GB) 6 9-01 Wontcostalot Partnership David Bridgwater

45 entries

7 Irish-trained

Paddy Power bet: 7/1 Oscar Whisky, Present View; 10/1 Ballynagour, Buywise, Champagne Fever, Uxizandre; 12/1 Colour Squadron, Felix Yonger, Johns Spirit, Shanpallas; 14/1 Hunt Ball, Mr Mole, Rajdhani Express, The Paparrazi Kid; 16/1 Attaglance, Ballycasey, Double Ross, Ericht, Persian Snow, Taquin Du Seuil, Wonderful Charm; 20/1 Caid du Berlais, Cantlow, Easter Meteor, Edgardo Sol, Hollow Penny, Indian Castle, Kapga de Cerisy, Lamool, Menorah, Rolling Aces, Rubi Light; 25/1 Astracad, Bears Affair, Cedre Bleu, Champion Court, Eastlake, Fago, Manyriverstocross; 33/1 Festive Affair, King Massini, One Term, Shangani; 40/1 No Buts; 50/1 Orpheus Valley

THE STANJAMES.COM GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE

£100,000 total prize fund, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 16, 2014. Two miles and half a furlong. Maximum field of 24.

Horse Age Wgt Owner Trainer

ROCK ON RUBY (IRE) 9 11-12 The Festival Goers Harry Fry

PURPLE BAY (IRE) 5 11-06 Bloomfields John Ferguson

GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 10 11-03 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

SIGN OF A VICTORY (IRE) 5 11-02 Matt & Lauren Morgan Nicky Henderson

SEA LORD (IRE) 7 11-00 Bloomfields John Ferguson

IRVING 6 11-00 Axom XLIX Paul Nicholls

VANITEUX (FR) 5 10-13 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson

BAYAN (IRE) 5 10-12 Core Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE

HAWK HIGH (IRE) 4 10-12 Trevor Hemmings Tim Easterby

KENTUCKY HYDEN (IRE) 4 10-12 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

BLUE HERON (IRE) 6 10-12 Horwood Harriers Partnership Dan Skelton

ORGILGO BAY (IRE) 4 10-11 D Kierans John McConnell

MONTBAZON (FR) 7 10-11 David Sewell Alan King

VOLNAY DE THAIX (FR) 5 10-10 Judy Wilson Nicky Henderson

GARDE LA VICTOIRE (FR) 5 10-10 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

WICKLOW BRAVE 5 10-10 Wicklow Bloodstock Limited Willie Mullins IRE

TAGLIETELLE 5 10-09 Olduvai Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE

ROMAN FLIGHT (IRE) 6 10-09 Favourites Racing David Dennis

SWING BOWLER 7 10-09 K Alexander David Pipe

GOODWOOD MIRAGE (IRE) 4 10-08 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Jonjo O'Neill

DANEKING 5 10-07 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

RAINBOW PEAK (IRE) 8 10-06 Bloomfields John Ferguson

VIBRATO VALTAT (FR) 5 10-06 Axom XLIII Paul Nicholls

BALTIMORE ROCK (IRE) 5 10-06 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe

WAXIES DARGLE 5 10-05 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE

FISHER 5 10-05 Exors of the late Mr David Barker John Quinn

HAMMERSLY LAKE (FR) 6 10-05 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson

NOBLE INN (FR) 4 10-05 M J Mulvaney Willie Mullins IRE

PEARL SWAN (FR) 6 10-04 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls

MIJHAAR 6 10-03 Bloomfields John Ferguson

KATGARY (FR) 4 10-03 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls

ART MAURESQUE (FR) 4 10-02 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls

PINE CREEK 6 10-02 Bloomfields John Ferguson

OLOFI (FR) 8 10-01 McNeill Family Tom George

LE FIN BOIS (FR) 4 10-01 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tim Vaughan

LUCKY BRIDLE (IRE) 5 10-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE

BARADARI (IRE) 4 10-00 A Brooks Venetia Williams

RAVEN'S TOWER (USA) 4 10-00 Faithful Friends Ben Pauling

MOUNTAIN KING 5 10-00 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

ANATOL (FR) 4 9-12 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls

LASER BLAZER 6 9-11 Calne Engineering Ltd Alan King

BROUGHTON (GER) 4 9-10 Bloomfields John Ferguson

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) 6 9-10 J P McManus Anthony Honeyball

ASTRE DE LA COUR (FR) 4 9-10 The Front Runners Partnership Robert Walford

DUBAWI ISLAND (FR) 5 9-09 Andrew Brooks & Julian Taylor Venetia Williams

AREA FIFTY ONE 6 9-09 Middleham Park Racing III Nicky Henderson

MINELLAFORLEISURE (IRE) 6 9-09 The Patient Partnership Alex Hales

DORMELLO MO (FR) 4 9-08 The Kyle & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls

VIOLET DANCER 4 9-08 D Bessell & Galloping On The South Downs Gary Moore

SHEMSHAL (FR) 6 9-07 Ms Sheila Moffett Tony Martin IRE

EAGLE ROCK (IRE) 6 9-07 The Ivy Syndicate Tom Tate

EXITAS (IRE) 6 9-06 Phil Middleton Phil Middleton

CASSELLS ROCK (IRE) 4 9-05 D Houlihan Tony Martin IRE

SLEEPY HAVEN (IRE) 4 9-05 Alan Baxter Anthony Bloor Dave Cheetham Jennie Candlish

CLONDAW WARRIOR (IRE) 7 9-01 Act D Wagg Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

CIVIL WAR (IRE) 5 9-00 Ashley Head Gary Moore

CALIPTO (FR) 4 0 0 Chris Giles & Ian Fogg Paul Nicholls

57 entries

10 Irish-trained

Stan James bet: 9/2 Vaniteux; 6/1 Sign Of A Victory; 10/1 Goodwood Mirage; 12/1 Daneking, Irving, Wicklow Brave; 14/1 Bayan, Clondaw Warrior, Garde La Victoire, Taglietelle; 16/1 Baltimore Rock, Hammersly Lake, Hawk High, Kentucky Hyden, Rock On Ruby, Volnay De Thaix; 18/1 Blue Heron; 20/1 Anatol, Lucky Bridle, Montbazon, Regal Encore, Vibrato Valtat; 25/1 Art Mauresque, Baradari, Fisher, Get Me Out Of Here, Katgary, Laser Blazer, Mijhaar, Pearl Swan, Pine Creek, Purple Bay, Rainbow Peak, Roman Flight, Swing Bowler, Waxies Dargle; 33/1 Area Fifty One, Cassells Rock, Mountain King, Noble Inn, Olofi, Orgilgo Bay, Raven's Tower, Sea Lord, Shemshal; 40/1 Astre De La Cour, Broughton, Dormello Mo, Dubawi Island, Eagle Rock, Exitas, Le Fin Bois, Sleepy Haven, Violet Dancer; 66/1 Civil War; 80/1 Minellaforleisure