Nemean Lion returns to the scene of his Winter Million triumph at Windsor 12 months ago as he targets the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle again on Friday.
Kerry Lee’s nine-year-old was victorious by half a length last year, claiming the winner’s prize of £52,000 under Richard Patrick as the 85-40 favourite.
This time he will be ridden by Conor O’Farrell, who steered the gelding to an excellent third in the Grade One Fighting Fifth on his seasonal debut at Newcastle in November.
“He’s fresh and well and seems in very good order,” Lee said of her bay.
“As long as the ground is nice and soft we’ll be happy. The reason we aim for the soft ground is because he had all that time off with a leg (injury) and we’ve just got to be respectful of that.
“As long as that’s under control he does seem to go on everything – he’s so versatile.
Taking on Nemean Lion will be Potters Charm, a seven-year-old last seen finishing fourth in the Long Walk at Ascot before Christmas.
Trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, he now steps back to a two-and-a-half-mile trip over which he had plenty of form as a novice.
“He’s won over two and half, he’s won over two. He’s very versatile,” said Willy Twiston-Davies.
“It’s a valuable race and he’s in great form. It’s hard to say what his ideal trip is. I think two and a half will be fine, but he definitely settles well enough to get three.
“He’s run two very competitive races and run very well. All signs lead to a big run for us and I think he’ll step forward again from Ascot.
“Friday will tell us a lot whether we go for the National Spirit or on to Aintree or what the Stayers’ is looking like.
“I think he’ll step forward a lot and I’m expecting a really bold showing on Friday and if he was to win very well then we’ll work back from the Stayers.”
Elsewhere in the race are two horses trained by Dan Skelton, with Take No Chances the mount of Harry Skelton and Royal Infantry set to be ridden by Tristan Durrell.
The former steps back in trip having finished third in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury when last seen, with her two-and-a-half-mile hurdle form from her novice campaign including third-placed runs behind Lossiemouth in both the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting,
“Take No Chance gets 7lb off for being a mare and carries forward some very good form,” Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.
“I would like to think she will be a massive player here. I have a lot of respect for the others in this race as it is competitive.
“Our horse is very consistent, tough, and tries very hard. We have trained her for this time of year as well. We thought we would have one run before Cheltenham, and this looks the best race for her. We are very happy and think she will go very close.”
Royal Infantry bids to get back on track and reverts to hurdling after finishing third of three in a Cheltenham novice chase last month.
Skelton added: “Royal Infantry is having a very stop-start year. He ran really well first time up over hurdles and it hasn’t been a smooth road since then.
“He ran well back over hurdles without winning and then faded over fences at the run in which was disappointing to see. It just doesn’t feel like we’ve had that smooth run with him but he is a high-quality horse.
“I know things will come together for him. He has a lot to prove but he will prove it as the spring goes on.
“I would like to see a solid run here but on numbers it looks like it will be difficult enough to beat a couple here. If he can run his best race and stay on through the line, I would be delighted and we can then build up from there.”
Harry Fry’s Altobelli, fifth in the Ascot Hurdle and sixth in the Long Walk, completes the field under Bryan Carver.