Lord Gyllene is expected to have his first race since winning the 1997 Martell Grand National in the next six weeks.

Trainer Steve Brookshaw has pencilled in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock in mid-December for the horse whose chief target this season is another attempt on the Aintree marathon.

And Brookshaw revealed that Lord Gyllene is likely to take in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup en route to Aintree.

"The Grand National is the main target again," the Shrewsbury-based trainer confirmed. "And I think he could run in the Gold Cup instead of going for the Midlands National again, as he would have a lot of weight this time.

"Trouble is the handicapper has put him up a bit for his year off.

"I phoned Christopher Mordaunt to ask him if he had dropped the horse a few pounds and he told me instead that he'd put him up. He told me it was because of what Suny Bay had done since."

Michael Bell's Hoh Chi Min bids to record her second Italian success in the final Group race to be staged at Milan this year, the Premio Chiusura over seven furlongs today.

Coming off a creditable second in a Listed contest at Deauville, Michael Fenton's mount, successful in a Listed race in Italy last year, may have most to fear from a strong German raiding party rather than local opposition.