Irish challenger Spillane’s Tower heads a discipline of 11 runners declared for the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day (14:30 GMT).
The six-year-old, skilled by Jimmy Mangan for proprietor JP McManus, was a twin winner on the high Grade One stage final season and was added as a supplementary entry final week together with final 12 months’s fourth-placed finisher The Actual Whacker and French contender Juntos Ganamos.
Spillane’s Tower, who shall be ridden by Mark Walsh, was second to Truth to File on his return to motion at Punchestown final month with double Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in third.
McManus additionally has the Emmett Mullins-trained Corbetts Cross, who shall be ridden by beginner Derek O’Connor, within the race which is ready to have its largest discipline since 2009.
The Dan Skelton-trained Gray Dawning – the Betfair Chase runner-up and a winner eventually season’s Cheltenham Competition – leads the British hopes whereas French challenger Il Est Francais can also be sturdy within the betting market.
The horse is skilled in France by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm and received the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over course and distance 12 months in the past however was pulled up at Auteuil final outing.
Final 12 months’s winner Hewick has not been declared and can as a substitute run over hurdles at Leopardstown, though Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge and Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen, who shall be ridden by Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore respectively, will journey from Eire.
The 2022 winner Bravemansgame bids to regain his crown and supply coach Paul Nicholls with a record-extending 14th victory within the race.
The sector is accomplished by L’Homme Presse, who makes his first look since ending fourth in final season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup for Venetia Williams.
In the meantime, former champion hurdler Structure Hill may meet rising star Lossiemouth within the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (13:55 GMT).
Structure Hill has been off the observe with a wide range of points since profitable at Kempton 12 months in the past however has been declared in a four-strong discipline.