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Last year's winner Cue Card (Colin Tizzard, Evens favourite with bet365) heads 11 entries for the 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, 14/1) in the 2015 renewal of the Grade Two three-mile contest and went on to enjoy terrific Grade One 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, 4/1). 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.
His Wakanda (28/1) 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 for the Grade Two Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January and the Grade One Bowl Chase at Aintree's Grand National Festival but was pulled up on both occasions.
Smith, who is based at High Eldwick, said today: "We made the entry for Wakanda this morning and, all being well, we will probably have a go.
"He has summered really well and seems in very good form. It is obviously shaping up to be a very good race but Wetherby is his local track and the owner is keen to have a crack at it.
"The ground was extremely heavy when he ran at Cheltenham and I think both that race and Aintree came on the back of quite a long season. He doesn't handle very heavy ground because he is only a tiny horse.
"We will find out more about him on Saturday."
Menorah (Philip Hobbs, 10/1) 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 (12/1), successful in a Grade Three 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 with See More Business (1999 & 2000) and Silviniaco Conti (2012). His two entries this year are Saphir du Rheu (16/1), a Grade One winner at Aintree in 2015, and Virak (20/1), a Grade Two-winning novice who showed progressive form in handicap company last season.
Completing the entries is Irish Cavalier (Rebecca Curtis, 16/1), 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
Each-Way terms: 1/5 the odds, 1-2-3
Pat Cooney, bet365 spokesman, commented: "'We are looking forward to our race and are pleased to see Cue Card back to defend his title.
"He was a well-backed winner of this race last year, and has always been a popular horse with the public.
"We're bracing ourselves for another big gamble on him this weekend, but wish him well as he certainly adds prestige to the race.
"We'd love Coneygree to run, but respect connections' ground conditions fears. However, Cue Card will have a tough test anyway with the likes of Blaklion and Menorah possible rivals."
Saturday at Wetherby is day two of the bet365 Charlie Hall meeting and the seven-race programme, which run from 1.35pm to 5.05pm, also includes the Grade Two bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle (2.45pm, 11 entries), worth £40,000, over three miles.
Ballyoptic (Nigel Twiston-Davies) won a Grade One novices' event at Aintree in April and confirmed his well-being when taking the Grade Three Silver Trophy at Chepstow on October 8, while Unowhatimeanharry (Harry Fry) could make his first appearance since taking the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Other leading contenders include Grade Two National Spirit Hurdle victor Lil Rockerfeller (Neil King) and Native River (Colin Tizzard), successful in Grade One company over fences.
Day one of the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting on Friday, October 28, includes two Listed races starting with the £27,500 bet365 Handicap Chase (3.20pm) over just shy of two and a half miles. The 20 entries are topped by high-class performer Saphir du Rheu (Paul Nicholls) who was a G1 winner over fences at Aintree in 2015.
Nicholls also has two exciting recruits in the £20,000 Listed Weatherbys Stallion Book Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (3.55pm, 14 entries) over two miles, having entered Cliffs Of Dover, who completed a remarkable three-timer at Cheltenham on Friday, and unbeaten French import Wealth Des Mottes.
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