Trainer Henry De Bromhead believes last year's winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard is ready to return as he heads back to Haydock Park for Saturday's Betfair Chase.
The eight-year-old, who landed the Haydock feature by a massive 22 lengths on his first run last year and then took the blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival on his final start, heads the five entries and is the 2-5 favourite with most firms including the sponsors to grab a second successive victory this weekend.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding is ready to get back on the road to defending his Gold Cup in March, a race he won so comprehensively as Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to claim the Grade One feature last season. He will face a maximum of four rivals including Nigel Twiston-Davies' triple Betfair Chase hero Bristol De Mai, the Dan Skelton-trained Gold Cup third Protektorat, recent Wincanton winner Frodon from the Paul Nicholls' stable and Joe Tizzard's Eldorado Allen.
