Nineteen have been entered for the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, including defending champion Bravemansgame and multiple Grade 1 winner Shiskin.
Bravemansgame will be attempting back-to-back victories in the Christmas showpiece and another success would mark a thirteenth win in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls.
"The two targets for him this season though are the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup. We might run him somewhere between the King George and the Gold Cup, but I've not made that plan yet. Those are my target races," said Nicholls.
"He was awesome in the Gold Cup [when second] and he ran well at Punchestown. He was always on the front end in the Gold Cup, and he kept galloping.
"I'd say you are at your best when you are eight, nine or ten. He has peaked now so he has still got another good go at it."
Last year's winner will face stiff opposition in the shape of Nicky Henderson's Shishkin, who successfully made the transition to three-mile chaser when winning the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl in April. The gelding, previously campaigned over two miles and successful in the 2021 Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, is likely to take in the Betfair Chase en-route to Kempton.
"The whole objective for Shishkin is one day after Christmas and that is the King George," said Henderson.
"After that race we will decide where we go from there. He has had a racecourse gallop and the plan is to go to the Betfair Chase first then onto the King George. He was super in the racecourse gallop and I was thrilled with him. Nico [de Boinville] rode him and he was great.
"I was definitely keen to do something like that with him. We took six of them to Windsor including Jonbon and Dusart and they all had a nice day out there. The ground was lovely down there.
"He is most definitely a stayer. We started last season at two miles, then we went up to two miles five furlongs at Ascot and he looked good. You would have to say we were a little bit disappointed at Cheltenham in the Ryanair Chase, but then we upped him to three miles one furlong at Aintree and that was a good solid staying jumping performance.
"His win at Aintree showed that he stays three miles, but now we have got to confirm that. The ground at Haydock does frighten you a little bit, but we have got to go there as he is not entered in the Charlie Hall and you have either that or the Betfair Chase before the King George.
"The King George is the obvious target if he is going for anything. You start with that and then go from there."
The five Irish entries are headed by Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin De Champs, alongside stablemate Allaho. Other notable possibles include last year's Tingle Creek winner Edwardstone and experienced campaigner Frodon, who is set to retire at the end of the season.
