Cole Harden will bid to back up his Ladbrokes World Hurdle success when he lines up in the Silver Cross Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.
The six-year-old may have been a surprise winner at Cheltenham but is sure to have more support in the extended three-mile contest, registered as the Liverpool Hurdle, after trainer Warren Greatrex reported his stable star in prime condition.
Cole Harden showed he acts on the track when runner-up to Beat All in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago.
"He's been in great form. The usual suspects are taking him on again, so we'll see," Greatrex told At The Races.
Most of the horses who finished directly behind Cole Harden are among the 16 entries.
They are led by runner-up Saphir Du Rheu, Zarkandar (third), At Fishers Cross (fourth), last year's winner Whisper (fifth) and Un Temps Pour Tout (sixth).
Zarkandar and Rock On Ruby also hold entries in Thursday's Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle, while Jessica Harrington's Jetson, Sandra Hughes' Lieutenant Colonel and Marinero, from Tony Martin's stable, are the three Irish-trained possibles.
Parlour Games, runner-up in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, is one of 30 entries for the Grade One Mersey Novices' Hurdle, though he is also entered in the Top Novices' Hurdle a day earlier.
Willie Mullins' Nichols Canyon and the Nicky Henderson-trained Vyta Du Roc, who were third and fourth that day, could renew rivalry.
Henderson also had Days Of Heaven, who completed a hat-trick in the Grade Two Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton, engaged.
Other possibles include Alpha Des Obeaux, As De Mee and Dan Skelton's promising Grade Two Warwick scorer Three Musketeers.
