Dan Skelton knows Protektorat faces a stiff challenge on his seasonal return in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park a week on Saturday – but he is happy to let take on favourite and last year's winner A Plus Tard.
The seven-year-old finished third behind Henry de Bromhead's Gold star in the Cheltenham Festival feature in March, before he disappointed when only fourth in the Betway Bowl at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse the following month.
Skelton is under no illusions about A Plus Tard's standing at the top of the staying chase division, but the Grade One feature at Haydock on November 19 has always been Protektorat's early season aim – and that won't change because of the opposition.
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Skelton said: "He's going to go to the Betfair. I've been very happy with him and he's done everything nicely.
"I've tightened up his pallet, so he's had pallet surgery, a slight cauterization, just because he hasn't had it done for two years.
"He might have jumped two out upsides in the Gold Cup but there's a big difference between two out and the line at Cheltenham.
"A Plus Tard is the reigning Gold Cup winner, he won this race (Betfair Chase) last year – he's going to be phenomenally difficult to beat, but you don't have a horse as good as Protektorat and shirk the issue, you've got to get stuck in.
"It is 100 per cent the right race for him to run in and the more rain the better."
Another who could line-up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock is course specialist Royale Pagaille – although connections may wait for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury later on this month depending on ground conditions.
The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old has won three of his four starts at Haydock – including back-to-back wins in the Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase. His only defeat at the Merseyside track came in last year's Betfair and owner Rich Ricci is mulling over another clash with A Plus Tard.
Royale Pagaille enjoys softer conditions and was also fifth to A Plus Tard in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March before finishing in the same position behind Clan Des Obeaux in the Bowl at Aintree the following month. But he may make his return with another clash with De Bromhead's Gold Cup hero again at Haydock in two weeks.
Ricci said: "Royale Pagaille is fine. He is probably a little bit behind given the lack of rain, but he is a fine horse and was running a huge race in the Gold Cup on ground he wouldn't have liked.
"I think the thing we have learned in the last two seasons is we've got a really nice horse on our hands, but he really is ground dependent.
"If he really is going to compete in these big Grade Ones, he needs it to be soft or worse. I think we will stick with that this year.
"He has done very well for us on ground that has not quite suited him, but to see him at his best, he needs to that soft to heavy ground."
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Royale Pagaille appears ready for his return and was said to be very well when Aramstone trainer Williams paraded four of her horses before racing at Hereford recently.
Ricci added: "He will have an entry in the Betfair at Haydock and he has an entry in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, the old Hennessy.
"He has got to carry 11st10lb whichever race he runs in, so I think we will go based on ground, rather than by race. When he gets his ground, he is a hell of a horse.
"They call him 'Al' in the yard, and he is great to own and a great purchase, and I'm delighted to have that one with Venetia."
