Six horses go to post for an intriguing renewal of the 2011 Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run will be a short priced favourite to make a winning start to the season.
Nicky Henderson's superstar chaser will be tough to beat in all of this season's top chases and fans of the French import will be hoping he can strike on his seasonal reappearance.
He will have to be on top form if he is going to master a high class field on Merseyside and racing fanatics will be desperate to see Kauto Star back to something like his best after a disappointing end to the season at Punchestown earlier this year.
We take a look at what the connections of the leading contenders have to say ahead of the Grade One.
Long Run
Robert Waley-Cohen (owner)
"The horse is in very good shape and we just have to hope he's improved as much as I think he has, and that he's fit enough to do himself justice.
"The only thing that I think will beat him is if when we get to the sharp end of the race and he's not as fully wound up as he will be by the time we get to Kempton and Cheltenham later in the season. He's certainly physically matured a lot since the public last saw him in March.
"His physical progression between then and now is impressive. Now he's a really handsome, strong horse. Last year we were the young horse trying to prove we were up for it and this year everyone will be trying to knock our crown off. It's a Grade One on Saturday and as good a renewal as there has been for a long time."
Kauto Star
Paul Nicholls (trainer)
"He looks amazing and with the horses running so well, it bodes well. He's not been having an easy time of it at home because we worked him with Master Minded, Big Buck's and Hinterland one day last week, so we're keeping him up to it, just to see how he is.
"The spark seems to be there, he looks amazing and he does always go well fresh so we're looking forward to it. We'll know a lot more after Saturday. If you go back to last year, if he runs anything like he did in the Gold Cup he'd have a very big chance.
"He's won three Betfair Chases so you can't say Haydock doesn't suit him. What wouldn't suit him would be deep Haydock ground, but it's going to be nice ground which will be a big plus to him."
Diamond Harry
James Reveley (jockey)
"We can't expect to beat Long Run, but hopefully he'll put up a good show and give him a run for his money. He's a strong-travelling horse and he does most things on the bridle.
"Nick normally likes his horses ridden handily and I'm sure there'll be plenty of pace in the race. They'll go a nice gallop so hopefully he'll travel well into it and be there at the end.
"He's very fit. He was fit enough to run in the Charlie Hall and Nick has kept him ticking over. He's 100% and I'm biting the bit to ride him."
Weird Al
Donald McCain (trainer)
"Weird Al seems grand since Wetherby. You don't expect to win a Charlie Hall Chase first time out but Ian Williams always thought the world of him, so his victory wasn't the biggest shock in the world.
"He came out of that race fine and, if there was a good time to take on Long Run, it would be first time out.
"Jason Maguire is going down to Ascot to ride Overturn, so Timmy Murphy was the obvious substitute, having won on him at Wetherby."
Time For Rupert
Paul Webber (trainer)
"He's in good form. He had two tests at Wetherby and he passed his health test and failed his fitness test, but he has come on for the run.
"He has always run on up the hill at Cheltenham, and Haydock will be sharp enough for him against top-class horses like Long Run - I'm not being negative, that is realistic." But we go there full of hope for a good run and we'll find out where he ranks."
