NEWBURY'S Tote Gold Trophy could be staged with the maximum of 27 runners after 44 horses were declared at yesterday's forfeit stage for the £100,000 guaranteed handicap on February 8th.

Martin Pipe's Pridwell, whose "double declaration" last Saturday caused anger in some quarters after stable companion Make A Stand, strode to victory in the Lanzarote; Handicap Hurdle at Kemp ton, could again compress the weights if he is declared.

Large Action is current top weight with 12st, but if Oliver Sherwood's nine year old were to defect, it would leave Pridwell with top weight of 12 st. If Pridwell then pulled out, the weights would rise by 13 lb.

Most notable defection was Mary Reveley's Executive Design, a 16 to 1 chance with William Hill. The other absentees were Tibetan, Frogmarch, Marchant Ming and Decide Yourself.