Connections of Uxizandre are hoping the six-year-old can start the season the way he ended the last campaign with victory at Aintree.
The Alan King-trained gelding signed off for 2013-14 by beating Oscar Whisky in the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase at the Liverpool track and now takes on seasoned performers in the Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase there on Saturday.
"He's in good form. It's his first run of the season and we're hoping for a good run," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner J P McManus.
"He took to the place well when he won there in the spring and Alan's very happy with him."
King is excited at getting Uxizandre up and running for the new campaign.
"We are all looking forward to getting the horse rolling again," the Barbury Castle trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.
"He enjoyed a terrific novice season, just being beaten at Cheltenham (in the JLT Novices' Chase) but going one better in the Grade One at the Aintree Festival.
"He definitely seems to have improved since we changed the tactics and rode him more aggressively, and a left-handed track seems to suit him best, so this looks the ideal starting-point and we can then think about the Paddy Power (Gold Cup at Cheltenham on 15 November)."
Lucinda Russell is delighted to get Bold Sir Brian back on the racecourse after his enforced 18-month absence.
The eight-year-old looked a smart prospect in 2012 when his victories included the Future Stars Chase at Sandown.
"I'm really pleased to have him back. He's been off for a long time. It's a fact-finding mission tomorrow," said the Kinross trainer.
"We hope he retains all his old ability. If he does he could be on a good handicap mark.
"He's ready to go. He's been in training since February."
Tom Cooper believes Lucky William is fit enough to do himself justice on his third start since returning from almost 26 months off the track after winning the Grade One Ryanair Chase at Punchestown in April 2012.
After being tailed off over hurdles on his comeback run at Tipperary in July, he only got as far as the third fence in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran won by Sizing Europe three weeks ago.
"He had an unfortunate fall in Gowran, but came out of it fine and I've managed to get him going again," said Tralee-based Cooper.
"He's in good order and he's as fit as I can get him without another run."
Edgardo Sol has not run over fences since being well beaten in this race 12 months ago, but he is a two-time winner at Aintree as he has his first start since joining Emma Lavelle's team from the Paul Nicholls stable.
"It's good to see him back on the track. He hasn't run over fences since this race last year. Hopefully he'll be somewhere near back to his best and has a good positive first race of the season," said Dan Downie, racing manager for owners Axom.
"He's been schooling well, he seems really well. He owes us nothing and we just hope he puts up a positive performance on his first run for Emma.
"Aintree's his track, so that's a real positive. Emma's happy with him and we're looking forward to it."
Module was third to Sire De Grugy in last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles, but trainer Tom George feels he should be suited by the extra half-mile and get even further.
"He schooled on Wednesday and jumped well," George told At The Races.
"We've always thought he'd probably want three miles, but we don't know that yet. He's run over two and a half before, but he's obviously got a lot of speed.
"We'll probably start off as if he's a stayer and if he's not then we can go back in trip, but that's the way we are thinking at the moment.
"He's run on soft, and good, so that's no issue."
