Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is excited to see last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard make his return to action in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
A Grade One winner over two miles a couple of years ago, the seven-year-old successfully stepped up to three miles when lunging late to land a thrilling Savills Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas.
Connections elected to head straight to the Festival off the back of that victory and it almost paid off, with A Plus Tard finding only stablemate Minella Indo too strong in the blue riband.
With Minella Indo having suffered defeat on his seasonal debut at Down Royal three weeks ago, Thompson is aware that the other star stayer in Henry de Bromhead’s yard is likely to improve for the run.
That being said, he is anticipating a bold showing on Merseyside from A Plus Tard, who will be a first ever runner at the track for the De Bromhead team.
"It’s very exciting to be going to Haydock on Saturday. He’s in great shape, I think. He’s bouncing around and looking the part, so we’ve got to go in with confidence," said Thompson.
"It’s obviously his first run of the season, but apart from that he’s in cracking form.
"We’re hoping for a big run, but we’ve got to recognise that he could improve for the run, of course."
Thompson believes the fact conditions at Haydock are unseasonably dry is a positive for A Plus Tard’s chances as he bids to deny proven mud lover Bristol De Mai a fourth Betfair Chase success.
"We’ve got a bit lucky with the ground – that’s a plus, anyway," he added.
The main reason A Plus Tard is travelling across the Irish Sea at this early stage of the campaign is the fact he prefers left-handed tracks.
Provided all goes according to plan this weekend, the son of Kapgarde looks likely to follow the same route as last season in preparation for his bid to go one better in the Cotswolds.
Thompson said: "All roads lead back to Cheltenham in March. We’ll see how Saturday goes, but he’ll probably go back to the Savills Chase again and then on to the Gold Cup."
Nigel Twiston-Davies has backed the "exceptional" Bristol De Mai to emulate Kauto Star by securing a record-equalling fourth victory the race.
It is 10 years since Kauto Star brought the house down at Haydock for the fourth and final time, a feat which means the Paul Nicholls-trained superstar is immortalised in bronze on Merseyside.
Twiston-Davies is hoping his long-time stable star can earn similar recognition this weekend by adding to his previous triumphs in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
He said: "Bristol De Mai is really special to us – he has been exceptional.
"We were lucky to have both him and The New One going great guns at the same time.
"Bristol hasn’t quite won the Gold Cup I always wanted, but he was third once and he’s doing OK.
"It would be just great to equal Kauto Star. He would be remembered forever and who knows, there may even be a race named after him!"
The flying grey has won five of his six starts at Haydock overall, his only defeat coming in this race when runner-up to Lostintranslation two years ago.
Bristol De Mai has been off the track since being pulled up in the Grand National in April and is not getting any younger at the age of 10, but Twiston-Davies is confident he is at the top of his game.
"He’s easy to get fit, that’s the beauty of it, and we’re all primed and ready to go," said the Naunton-based trainer.
"There was one year where he was second and that year we really struggled with lameness problems and he didn’t quite get there 100%.
"We’re as happy as we’ve ever been with him fitness-wise.
"The race looks as hot as ever really, but the one thing he always has in his favour is that he’s so easy to get fit and I wonder whether they all will be as fit as he is – hopefully not.
"The track suits him and he’s won this race on good ground before (in 2018), so hopefully it won’t be a problem.
"It’s just a superb track, I love the track and it seems to suit our horses.
"Bristol likes to be able to boss races and there are two long straights and easy bends, so he can just get out there and do his stuff."
Having saddled Kauto Star for his four victories, and also struck gold twice with Silviniaco Conti, Nicholls is this year represented by Next Destination in his bid for a seventh Betfair Chase success.
The lightly-raced nine-year-old is fitted with cheek-pieces on his first outing since filling the runner-up spot in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March.
"He’s a high-class horse who is hopefully progressive and we always rated him highly – potentially he’s got a huge engine," said Nicholls.
"He’s had an away-day – he had a good piece over two miles at Exeter with Saint Calvados and Rouge Vif and a couple of others that ran last weekend. He’s had a really good preparation.
"It’s been a good race for us in the past and we’d love to win it again."
Waiting Patiently has not managed to get his head in front since beating Cue Card at in the 2018 Ascot Chase, but has won at Haydock before and new trainer Christian Williams is excited about his chances.
"He’s very classy and we just pray we can run him on Saturday. As long as the ground doesn’t get any quicker, I think we’ll take our chance," said the Welsh handler.
"We’re confident. We’ve only had him a few months, but we don’t think we can get him any better.
"It’s a sharp track, flat track and he’s got form round there, so I think he’s got plenty in his favour."
Another horse who has already shown an affinity for the track is the Venetia Williams-trained Royale Pagaille, who was a brilliant winner of the Peter Marsh Chase over the course and distance in January.
He finished lame when a well-beaten sixth in the Gold Cup in the spring, but is reported to be in good form ahead of his return by jockey Charlie Deutsch.
He said: "He has proven he can win a good race off top-weight in a good handicap and we know he likes the track, which is a bonus.
"He picked up a foot injury in the Gold Cup. His jumping was not as good as it normally is and whether that was down to the foot, I don’t know. I’m not looking into that result too much as hopefully he is still improving.
"I’ve done a bit of schooling on him at home and I’ve done a few pieces of work on him and all seems great at the moment."
Imperial Aura looked every inch a top-class chaser in the making after winning his first two starts of last season, but unseated his rider at Kempton in January and was pulled up at Cheltenham in March.
Trainer Kim Bailey is hoping a subsequent wind operation will help him bounce back, while he is keen to see how he fares beyond three miles.
He said: "He has always been a horse that I felt would be better over a longer trip, though he is quite a quick horse. Going back up to three miles shouldn’t be a problem.
"It is a flat track at Haydock and I think the race will suit him.
"He has had a breathing operation over the summer and he seems in a really good place. I think you just have to walk away from the second half of last season.
Outsiders Clondaw Castle and Chatham Street Lad complete the line-up.
