Cheltenham Gold Cup runner up The Giant Bolster among those to face Long Run in Betfair Chase

Long Run will face five rivals as he aims to make a winning return to action in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson's French recruit looked set to dominate the staying chase division for years to come after winning the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup a couple of seasons ago, but last term was not so straightforward as he failed to really sparkle.

His main rival could be the up-and-coming Silviniaco Conti. Paul Nicholls' six-year-old was an impressive winner of the Charlie Hall.

The Giant Bolster ran a screamer to beat Long Run to the runner-up spot in the Gold Cup and sets out this season to prove that effort was no fluke for the David Bridgwater team.

Weird Al is an interesting contender for the Donald McCain yard. The nine-year-old is seemingly at his best when fresh, as he showed when victorious in last year's Charlie Hall.

Wayward Prince finished second in this season's Charlie Hall on his first start since being trained by his owner Hilary Parrott. The field is completed by the Colin Tizzard-trained outsider Cannington Brook.