There are several important reasons for Le Beau Bai to head to Sandown with a decent chance in tomorrow's Bet365 Gold Cup.

The first is the weather, as it is unusual for the nine-year-old to encounter his preferred conditions at this time of the season.

The second concerns his owners, the Glass Half Full syndicate.

"One of the four people who own him is a man called Will Roseff and he happens to be a director of Bet365," said trainer Richard Lee.

"Obviously we were very pleased to take Coral's money when we won the Welsh National, but he wouldn't mind winning back some from his company."

Victory in the mud of the Welsh National just after Christmas fulfilled a burning ambition for Lee, who trains just inside the border in Herefordshire but has a Welsh postcode.

Le Beau Bai was third in the same race in 2009 and regularly runs well in the big staying chases when the going gets tough.

"The ground can never be too soft for him and it's been wet enough where I am, so hopefully it will be the same at Sandown," Lee said.

"He ran well in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, we didn't go to the National and this was the only race left for him apart from a three-mile handicap hurdle on Swinton day at Haydock.

"Touch wood, it has gone very smoothly so far, he did his last piece of work on Thursday morning."Dessie Hughes is responsible for the two Irish-trained runners in the field, Rare Bob and Vic Venturi.

Both failed to complete the course in the Grand National two weeks ago, and while the County Kildare trainer reports them to be 100%, he is hoping the ground is not too soft.

"Both are in good form and they are fine after Liverpool. The better the ground the better it will be for them. I'd like it to be good to soft," said Hughes.

"I'm happy with the weight they've got and glad the weights haven't gone up."

Minehead trainer Philip Hobbs is delighted to see the heavens open for Roalco de Farges.

Hobbs said: "The more rain for him the better.

"He's in particularly good form, and had a confidence-builder when he won well at Chepstow last time, but we are obviously taking a big step up in class.

"He'd have a squeak."

Deep Purple is another aiming to have better luck after being pulled up in the Grand National.

The 11-year-old will appreciate the course and distance having been successful in December.

"In hindsight it would have been nice to come straight here rather than take a punt in the National," said his trainer Evan Williams.

"He'd been impressive over the course and distance carrying a big weight in the London National.

"You never know how they have come out of the Grand National. If it had not been for that I'd have been looking forward to going there.

"He's schooled on two or three occasions since Aintree. We've not done much with him, but he seems well so we're giving it a crack."

Nigel Twiston-Davies is expecting good runs from his two runners, Major Malarkey and Viking Blond.

"Major Malarkey was fifth last year and wasn't beaten very far, about six lengths. He was not beaten far again at Sandown again this year (behind Deep Purple)," Twiston-Davies told At The Races.

"He was second in the Midlands National. He's in real form so we are very hopeful.

"We don't want it heavy and we'd worry if it got very soft."

However, should the ground deteriorate further, it would boost Viking Blond's prospects.

"He fell at the first in the National so he didn't race at all. He came back absolutely bouncing," said the Naunton trainer.

"The softer the ground, the better his chances.

"The handicapper hasn't got hold of him as he probably has most of the others. If he put his best foot forward he'd run well."

Alan King's delight at the rain that has fallen this week is slightly tempered by his concern about West End Rocker's ability to handle the track.

West End Rocker has had a fairly light campaign because of the lack of soft ground this winter.

Winner of the Becher Chase at Aintree in December, he only got as far as the second in the Grand National.

"We obviously wanted the rain so that's fine. He's a comparatively fresh horse for this time of year," said the Barbury Castle trainer.

"My only slight worry is whether he would handle Sandown. He seems to love a flat galloping track, but he's fine so I have to run him."

Swing Bill got round in the National, although he was well beaten in 10th place behind Neptune Collonges.

He is reported to be none the worse for his exertions by his trainer David Pipe.

"He ran well at Aintree. He'd probably want slightly drier ground, but he's in good form with himself. He's got an outside chance," said the Nicholashayne trainer.

Dover's Hill won over an extended three miles on this course last month and his trainer Mary Hambro is pleased with the 10-year-old, though she has reservations about the ground.

"He's been doing really well since his last race. The only thing I'm just not happy about is all this wet weather," said the Gloucestershire handler.

"Sam Thomas came to school him this morning and that all went very well."

Emma Lavelle would also like to see better conditions for Ouzbeck, who she has targeted as this race for a while.

"He's in great nick. Obviously in a perfect situation we wouldn't want it as wet as this," said the Andover trainer.

"He's well in himself. I think the trip will be in his favour, but it's just a case in an ideal world it would be drier.

"Fingers crossed he'll go and run a good race. We've had this race in mind for a long time, so hopefully he'll go and do himself proud."