Paul Nicholls hopes Big Buck's can show he has the potential to become a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender when he goes for glory at Newbury.

Nicholls sent out Denman to lift the Hennessy Gold Cup last season and, despite admitting to some reservations, believes Big Buck's could have a "massive chance" of emulating that success.

"I think Big Buck's has improved (from last season) and I think he will improve," he said. "If he jumps really well and travels well on the heels of the leaders or somewhere near turning in, then I think he'll have a massive chance.

"You don't want any hard-luck stories or anything going wrong, which makes me a little bit nervous with Big Buck's, because I need him jumping well.

"If he starts making mistakes and getting a little bit cautious he'll pay the penalty. This is not like a five-runner novices' chase. One day I hope he'll be good enough for a Gold Cup, but he'll need to run well in this if he is."

Nicholls, who has won the race twice as a jockey and as a trainer, has a particularly strong hand as he also saddles Dear Villez and My Will.

"I also think that Dear Villez will run very well," said the Ditcheat handler.

"He won the Munster National earlier this season at Limerick and he will love the ground and is a course winner.

"My Will has gone well fresh in the past, but it would be a big ask."

Nicky Henderson tasted Hennessy success with Trabolgan three years ago and runs Oedipe this time.

"I think he has a chance," said the Seven Barrows trainer. "This has always been the plan. Obviously there are going to be many people trying very hard to win a race that is part of Newbury's history but all we do is try to get our horses there in one piece."

Naunton trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, victorious with King's Road in 2000, relies on joint-top weight Knowhere. Also burdened with 11st 12lb is Snoopy Loopy, who just has 1lb of of a 6lb penalty to carry for winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock last Saturday.