Kripticjim is looking to back up his impressive win last time out in the Amber River Life Landscaping EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday.
The Joe Tizzard-trained five-year-old created a good impression when beating Dan Skelton’s Loriko at Ascot.
William Harvey runs impressive Gowran winner Daydream Nation, while Ben Pauling’s Trial By Jury won an Irish point as recently as October and should give the likely favourite something to think about.
Kripticjim runs in the Gold Cup-winning colours of Garth and Anne Broom’s Brocade Racing, and the former said: “We’re at the stage now we’re we are finding out how good these novices are really.
“You have to learn to be a good loser in racing as you lose more often than you win. I’m hoping he’ll run well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t. He must have a good chance, he won nicely at Ascot.
“When we went to Tom’s (Malone) he showed us two horses, Kripticjim and Alexei. He asked us which one we liked. Anne really liked Kripticjim as he’s her type of horse, but I liked Alexei as I thought it would be nice to have something different, so we bought them both and it looks a good bit of business.”
Nicky Henderson’s Relkeel Hurdle winner Lucky Place gets the chance to atone for defeat on his chasing debut against just one other rival, Ben Pauling’s Jig’s Forge, in the Hoorrrraaaayyyy It’s Christmas Queens Arms “Chasing Excellence” Beginners’ Chase.
Henderson reported that Lucky Place had an excuse for his lacklustre Ascot run.
Speaking to Unibet he said: “I think Newbury looks the place for him.
“He didn’t scope clean after Ascot, but I’d have thought Newbury would look the right place.”
Elsewhere, Patrick Mullins has his first ride at the Berkshire track aboard Road To Home for his father, Willie, in the BetVictor Wishes You A Merry Christmas Handicap Chase.
“It will be my first ever time Newbury and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Mullins, who rode a winner at Catterick on Tuesday.
Ireland’s leading amateur is attempting to ride a winner at all UK tracks but Catterick had already been ticked off.