The presence of Twist Magic in Tuesday’s totesport.com Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter means only four other horses will be in the handicap proper out of a field of nine.
Paul Nicholls' five-time Grade One winner needs to put a disappointing end to last season behind him on Haldon Hill.
He was pulled up in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, refused to race at the Punchestown festival and was beaten in the Celebration Chase at Sandown.
Noel Fehily comes in for the ride with stable jockey Ruby Walsh consenting to ride the six-year-old Tchico Polos from out of the handicap.
Second to Punchestowns in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase last season, he is 5lb 'wrong' at the weights.
Henrietta Knights Arkle runner-up Somersby will make his eagerly-awaited reappearance.
The strapping six-year-old will be one of the biggest rides of new stable jockey Hadden Frost's career.
Herecomesthetruth, a Grade One-winning novice for Nicholls, will have his first start since joining Chris Gordon.
Milton Harris' Chaninbar, who ran so well at Cheltenham on his first start of the season behind Edgbriar, steps up in class.
David Pipe will be hoping for better from I'msingingtheblues who fell on his debut for the yard in the Old Roan Chase.
Barry Geraghty has been sweating to do his minimum weight of 10st 4lb to ride Cornas for Nick Williams.
The eight-year-old looked as good as ever when winning in Ireland first time out last month.
Bob Buckler's admirable 10-year-old The Sawyer completes the field running from 7lb out of the handicap.
Frost is eagerly looking forward to getting the leg-up on Somersby.
‘He's done lots of schooling recently,’ said the jockey.
‘He's one of the main reasons I took the job on - to ride horses like him in races like this.
‘Henrietta always has lovely horses and I'm very thankful to her for giving me the opportunity.
‘She's got a great record in the race, she's won it with the likes of Best Mate and Edredon Bleu so hopefully she can win it again.
‘The fact Twist Magic runs means he keeps the weights down for everyone but then again it means he is also there to beat.
‘I think he'll be the best horse I've ridden. I've ridden some lovely horses in some big handicaps for Mr Pipe but on the ratings he'll be the best.’
Gordon is looking forward to seeing how Herecomesthetruth gets on after his transfer from the Nicholls yard.
‘He's a lovely horse for me to get,’ said Gordon.
‘He's a syndicate-owned horse. I'm running him over a trip short of his best because he seemed to train off very quickly last year having run an absolute blinder first time out.
‘He seems fresh in himself and could have a busy season with being owned by a syndicate.
‘I think he tends to be at his best first time out but with it being a shorter trip we'll let him bowl along in front.
‘There's no doubting his ability - on his day he's a very good horse - but he can be a bit hit and miss.
‘He was one of Harry Findlay's old horses so I bought him privately and sold him as a potential Grand National horse.’
