Paul Nicholls is looking forward to the William Hill King George VI Chase with last year's first and third after Silviniaco Conti and Al Ferof both won their weekend assignments in fine style.
Silviniaco Conti won the Betfair Chase at Haydock for a second time after a lacklustre comeback race at Wetherby and is now favourite to defend his Kempton crown.
And Nicholls has a strong second string to his bow in Al Ferof, who claimed the Amlin Chase at Ascot for a second successive year at Ascot.
While Simonsig challenges Silviniaco Conti at the head of the betting, Nicholls rates Champagne Fever as the biggest danger.
"I think it was probably his (Silviniaco Conti's) best performance. He won with his ears pricked and probably had a little bit left in the tank. Once he hits the front, he's got quite idle nowadays. It was a very good performance," Nicholls told At The Races.
"The cheekpieces definitely made a difference, they just sharpened him up a bit as he'd got a bit lazy. I'd always been thinking about it and I made my mind up just watching him school last Wednesday. He was a little bit lazy but when we put them on him on Thursday and Friday, they sharpened him up and it worked a treat.
"Without a shadow of a doubt they brought about massive improvement in him.
"The first time we ever put See More Business in blinkers he won a Gold Cup and he wore them for the rest of his career and they worked every time. I don't see why the cheekpieces won't carry on working.
"He's obviously in the form of his life at the moment. It would be ideal if the ground was soft, at the moment it looks like it might be. It will be a hot race as normal, but he's going there with every chance again.
"Simonsig is coming back from injury and has to run yet, I'd be more concerned about Champagne Fever to be honest. He looked very good the other day and they think Kempton will suit him well, it will be very interesting.
"We might just give him a run before the Gold Cup after Kempton this year because as you saw on Saturday, from Wetherby to Haydock he improved enormously so we might give him an easy January then try to find a prep race before the Gold Cup."
Nicholls was also delighted with Al Ferof but would prefer better ground for the grey.
"He's had a few problems but he looked like he was at his very best on Saturday. He travelled well and jumped well and that set him up nicely for the King George," he said.
"He's a little bit the opposite of Silviniaco Conti as although he does act in the soft, probably over three miles he'd want better ground.
"His optimum trip is less than three miles and he has to prove he stays it but he's by Dom Alco so he should stay. The times he's been over three, at Kempton last year and in the Aon (Denman Chase) at Newbury, the ground was very testing, so slightly better ground will suit him."
