LAST year's winner Cue Card (Colin Tizzard) heads 11 entries for the £100,000 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.20pm) at Wetherby this Saturday.
The 10-year-old was successful by three and three quarter lengths from Dynaste (David Pipe) in the 2015 renewal of the Grade 2 three-mile contest and went on to enjoy terrific Grade 1 victories in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, King George VI Chase at Kempton Park and Betfred Bowl at Aintree.
Also entered is the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree (Mark Bradstock). The nine-year-old landed chasing's championship race as a novice but has been restricted to just one start since, when successful in a graduation chase at Sandown Park in November, 2015. His participation depends on the going.
However, he now at least has the option in case the heavens open.
"It is very much a 'just-in-case' entry," Sarah Bradstock said.
"I told the owners a while ago he'd have the option so that's what he's got, we'd look silly if it did rain. It's very much plan B at this stage, though, as it's only three weeks before Haydock (Betfair Chase) and that is plan A.
Wakanda is likely to make his seasonal reappearance for local handler Sue Smith, so often Wetherby's top trainer each season, in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.
The eight-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign in the first half of last season, capturing three listed handicap chases on the trot including the bet365 Handicap Chase at this meeting and the three-mile Silver Cup at Ascot in December.
He was stepped up in class at Cheltenham in January and at Aintree's Grand National Festival but was pulled up on both occasions.
Menorah (Philip Hobbs) landed the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase in 2014, while The Last Samuri (Kim Bailey) could make his first appearance since finishing runner-up in the Grand National in April.
The combination responsible for Menorah, owner Diana Whateley and trainer Philip Hobbs, could also be represented by Sausalito Sunrise, successful in a Grade 3 handicap chase at Cheltenham last season.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies boasts a tremendous record in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, having won the prestigious contest a joint-record four times.
His entry this year is Blaklion, (6/1) who scored over the course and distance in February when taking the Grade Two totepool Towton Novices' Chase before going on to prove himself one of last season's top novices' when successful in the Grade One RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls has won the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase three times). His two entries this year are Saphir du Rheu, a Grade 1 winner at Aintree in 2015, and Virak, a Grade 2-winning novice who showed progressive form in handicap company last season.
Completing the entries is Irish Cavalier (Rebecca Curtis), who belied his 66/1 starting price when fifth in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, bet365 bet:
Evens Cue Card, 4/1 Coneygree, 6/1 Blaklion , 10/1 Menorah, 12/1 Sausalito Sunrise, The Last Samurai, 14/1 Dynaste, 16/1 Saphir du Rheu, Irish Cavalier 20/1 Virak, 28/1 Wakanda