Racing: Newmill is the most notable of three late absentees from Friday's John Smith's Melling Chase. Last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase winner has a stone bruise and misses the Aintree feature.
Others out of the Grade One contest over two and a half miles are the Paul Nicholls-trained Cerium, who has burst a blood vessel, and the lame Fota Island from Mouse Morris' yard.
Newmill's trainer John Murphy said: "He's got a stone bruise. We noticed it last night and again this morning even though we've had it poulticed.
"Fingers crossed, we'll get him right for Punchestown."
That leaves just six, including Monet's Garden, whose trainer Nicky Richards hopes can bounce back to his best.
Detroit City is among 13 horses declared at the 48-hour stage for the Baltika Beer Aintree Hurdle on Saturday as he tries to make up for his Champion Hurdle failure.
Terry Warner's grey was a big disappointment at Prestbury Park as he trailed home sixth behind Sublimity and now steps up to two and a half miles.
Other Champion Hurdle runners - Afsoun (third), Kawagino (fifth) and Asian Maze (seventh) - again take on the Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old.
Asian Maze, trained by Tom Mullins, took the Aintree prize 12 months ago, while 2005 winner Al Eile also tries again.
Arguably the most interesting runner is David Pipe's Gaspara, owned by his father Martin.
The four-year-old filly won a £75,000 bonus for her connections with victory in Sandown's Imperial Cup and the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Black Jack Ketchum and Blazing Bailey, engaged in Thursday's Liverpool Hurdle, have also been declared.
The line-up is completed by Jazz Messenger, Arcalis, Strangely Brown, Whispered Promises and Star Antique.