TWO local trainers could go head-to-head for honours in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup next week at Cheltenham Racecourse

Winner of the BetVictor Gold Cup, Happy Diva could target a rare double and is one of the 38 horses entered for Caspian Caviar Gold Cup on December 14.

Happy Diva was brought down when going well in the 2018 BetVictor Gold Cup, but gained rich compensation in the prestigious G3 handicap chase earlier this month with a battling success under conditional rider Richard Patrick.

The eight-year-old mare has the chance to become the fourth horse to win both the BetVictor Gold Cup and Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in the same season, following Pegwell Bay (1988), Senor El Betrutti (1997) and Exotic Dancer (2006).

Trainer Kerry Lee, from Byton, said: "Happy Diva has come out of the BetVictor Gold Cup in good form.

"We were delighted with the performance and it was fantastic to see her win a big race like that.

"She has been entered in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and that race is a possible target.

"At this stage, the race is an option and we will make a firm decision nearer the time."

Cepage chased home subsequent G1 Ryanair Chase hero Frodon in last year's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and the seven-year-old will attempt to go one better.

Trained by Venetia Williams, Cepage did not race for the remainder of last season, but reappeared this term with a good second behind Riders Onthe Storm (Nigel Twiston-Davies) in a valuable handicap chase at Aintree on November 9.

Williams, from Aramstone, said: "Cepage shaped really well at Aintree when finishing second.

"He had been off the track for 11 months after sustaining a tendon injury last year in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. That race is again the plan with him.

"He has run some great races in defeat and it would be great if he could get his head in front in a race like this."