Nicky Henderson believes his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth will have to "raise the bar again" if he is to make a winning return to action in what promises to be a thrilling renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The eight-year-old made just two appearances last season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury before claiming a glorious victory in the blue riband at Prestbury Park in March.
He encounters different surroundings this weekend as he makes the journey north from Lambourn to Merseyside and Henderson admits the less demanding nature of Haydock represents an different challenge.
Henderson said: "It is a great race, which is because there aren't really any other races for these horses to run in. There is the Hennessy, but neither Bobs Worth or Long Run would run in that as they'd be carrying Arkle-type weights.
"I think the big encouragement for us is the changing of the track at Haydock. It will be interesting to see how it rides, but the inside track there wasn't great and by pushing it out, hopefully it is a more galloping track, which will suit our horses.
"Bobs Worth is as fit and well as he was going into the Hennessy last year, but at the same time you would have to think he'll have to raise the bar again in a race like this.
"Three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham is great, three and a quarter miles at Newbury is great. Three miles on a Flat track like Haydock is not the same thing, but there is nowhere else for him to go."
The master of Seven Barrows also saddles 2011 Gold Cup hero Long Run, runner-up in the last two runnings of the Betfair Chase.
However, he is on a retrieval mission after finishing outside the first three for the first time over fences when only fifth in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby at the start of the month.
"Long Run has technically had a run. All right the wheels came off a bit, but we're happy that we know what happened and why it happened," said Henderson.
"He does seem in very good form. He has jumped beautifully all week - he's done plenty of it."
Long Run's owner, Robert Waley-Cohen, is similarly hopeful his pride and joy can show his true colours on Saturday.
He said: "We wouldn't be running if we didn't think he was ready to do himself justice, so we just have to hope for the best.
"If he runs up to his best form then hopefully he'll shake them up. If he doesn't run up to his best, then he certainly won't.
"It looks like a great race. All the top horses are there, apart from Willie Mullins' horse (Sir Des Champs). Whatever wins on Saturday will have to be on their best form."
Henderson's great rival Paul Nicholls has an outstanding record in the race, thanks largely to the exploits of his legendary four-time winner Kauto Star.
Silviniaco Conti took over where his former stable companion left off with a brilliant front-running effort a year ago and is back to defend his title.
Nicholls said: "The Betfair Chase is always a good race, we were lucky to win it quite a few times with Kauto Star and Silviniaco Conti last year and we're looking forward to it, but it does look a vintage race."
After his triumph 12 months ago, Silviniaco Conti tackled the Gold Cup and was still in contention when falling three fences from home.
Nicholls is looking forward to the rematch with Bobs Worth.
"Our horse was travelling well when he fell three out last year and you never know what would have happened afterwards. We are hopeful that we can beat him, that's what makes for such good competitive racing," he told Talksport.
Asked whether he thought Bobs Worth might need the run having not been seen since the Gold Cup, Nicholls said: "I wouldn't have thought so, not many of Nicky's horses need the race, when you run those good horses you don't want to be running them with big weights and needing a run. It will be very competitive and all of them will improve a bit."
With regular rider Ruby Walsh no longer attached to the Nicholls yard and new number one Daryl Jacob in action at Ascot on Saturday, the Ditcheat handler has called up on Noel Fehily to partner his big hope at Haydock.
Nicholls saddles a second major challenger in Tidal Bay, runner-up behind Bobs Worth in last year's Hennessy before winning one of the races of the season in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
Injury curtailed his campaign, but the 12-year-old appeared as good as ever when winning over hurdles at Wetherby recently and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is thrilled to have kept the ride.
"He's a pleasure to ride, my instructions (at Wetherby) were not to hit the front too soon and try not to hit him, and it worked out well. To get the chance to ride him again is very cool and I'm very much looking forward to it," the jockey told At The Races.
"When you're riding him he's tickling your nose with his ears, he's one of those you need to whisper in his ear 'come on buddy, just a stride faster would be great' and sometimes you might want to swear at him, but at the same time he's a pleasure to ride.
"He's easy as he travels, he jumps and does everything you want, he picked up well after the last at Wetherby.
"He's beaten the Gold Cup second (Sir Des Champs) and was only a couple of lengths behind Bobs Worth in the Hennessy. His form is rock solid and I wouldn't want to swap him anyway.
"We've had a run so we've got fitness on our side and hopefully he can run a massive race.
"Everything he is doing now is just a bonus. He's a 12-year-old but Paul thinks he has got him as well as he has ever been. I can jump off, mosey on round, and hopefully pick them off late on when they've been scrapping."
Last season's Ryanair Chase hero Cue Card adds another fascinating angle to the race for father-son combination Colin and Joe Tizzard.
The seven-year-old finished a distant fifth on his only previous attempt at three miles in last year's King George VI Chase, but jockey Joe is confident the distance will not be a problem this weekend.
Cue Card has the benefit of race-fitness, having finished third in the Haldon Cup at Exeter earlier this month.
Tizzard jnr said: "He came out of the race at Exeter really well. He's schooled well this week and worked well. He goes to Haydock in good shape.
"It's a tremendous race, but our lad is one of the best horses in the country, there aren't many options and he deserves his place in the field.
"Dad and I have always been confident he would get three miles. As he's got older and stronger he's settled better and he's giving himself a chance.
"He stayed two miles and five (furlongs) really well in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. The question about three miles is still unanswered, but we're hopeful he'll be fine."
One of last season's leading novice chasers Dynaste looks to make the grade in open company.
Trainer David Pipe said: "It's a hot race but we're in good form. Three miles round there should be ideal for him. We'll see how we get on.
"Hopefully it's on to Kempton (for the King George) afterwards."
Jockey Tom Scudamore is relishing the prospect of seeing Dynaste test his talents against the best horses in the staying division.
Scudamore said: "We always thought he was a very good horse. Cheltenham was disappointing because he got beaten but then to come out and do what he did at Aintree proved he was no flash in the pan.
"A lot of people were saying he wasn't a spring horse, maybe he was this or maybe he was that but at the end of the day he's just a very, very good horse. How good he is, we'll find out on Saturday."
The only Irish-trained runner in the field is Gordon Elliott's Roi Du Mee, a shock winner of the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal last time.
Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud, admits it would be a surprise if he is good enough to get seriously competitive at this level.
O'Leary said: "We've probably bitten off more than we can chew - it looks a fantastic race - but we're happy to let him take his chance.
"He's a horse who won six races last season and he just keeps on surprising us. I hope he keeps on surprising us.
"It was a step up for him at Down Royal and this is another big step up, so we'll see how he goes."
The field is completed by David Bridgwater's The Giant Bolster, second and fourth in the last two runnings of the Gold Cup and third in this race a year ago.
It is a measure of the calibre of the field that he is a rank outsider for the race.
Bridgwater said: "He's in good form and could run a fantastic race and finish fifth or sixth.
"As long as we're happy with him, that's all that matters and hopefully we can kick on from here.
"If he can pick up a bit of prize-money that would be wonderful, but he has a lot of good horses to beat before we can do that.
"Denis (O'Regan) rides him for the first time, but that shouldn't be a problem. He's a good jockey and good jockeys get on with any horse."
