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Evan Williams is leaning towards a repeat bid for Coral Hurdle glory with Court Minstrel at Ascot on Saturday.

The nine-year-old is also entered in the Betfair Price Rush Hurdle at Haydock and while Williams has not totally ruled out a trip to the Merseyside venue, he admits Ascot would be the preferred option.

Court Minstrel finished second to Rock On Ruby in the race last year and made an excellent start to the current campaign when beaten just a neck when conceding 4lb to Hargam at Kempton last month.

Williams said: "I think Ascot would be our first preference as he has run so well there in the past, particularly when he was second last year.

"I wouldn't be totally ruling out Haydock, but Ascot would be the first choice and the horse has been really well since his last run."

Nick Williams has two under consideration, last year's Betfair Hurdle winner Agrapart and Le Rocher, winner of the Grade One Finale Hurdle back in 2013 but off the track since January 2014 due to injury.

Yanworth, who won each of his four hurdles starts before having to settle for second in the Neptune at the Festival, could return for trainer Alan King and owner JP McManus.

Garde La Victoire is another eyecatching possible for Philip Hobbs after finishing second in the Haldon Gold Cup, although he also has two alternate chase options on the card.

Zarkandar is one of two contenders for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, with Connetable also a possible to line up, while Lil Rockerfeller could try to improve on his recent third at Wetherby for Neil King.

Henry de Bromhead could run Petit Mouchoir, who was placed at Grade One level last term when trained by Willie Mullins, and Gary Moore's Ubak makes up the 10 possibles.