Ante-post second favourite for the Tote Cheltenham Gold CupBeef Or Salmon has been entered by trainer Michael Hourigan for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Guillaume Macaire's unbeaten six-year-old Jair Du Cochet heads the 72 entries for the three-miles, half-a-furlong event.
Former top hurdler Le Coudray, trained by Christy Roche for JP McManus, is also in the field. McManus also has Over The Bar, trained by Edward O'Grady this side of the Irish Sea, while the home defence includes Jonjo O'Neill's pair Joss Naylor and Keen Leader.
Martin Pipe has seven entries including leading contenders such as It Takes Time, Montalcino, Tarxien and Montreal.
Mark Pitman has entered the dual Festival winner Monsignor while Len Lungo's entry includes Skippers Cleuch and The Bajan Bandit.
Owner Nick Bannister and trainer Peter Beaumont took last year's race with Hussard Collonges and this time they could be represented by Pendle Hill, who has finished second over fences at Carlisle and Newcastle this year.
Although the Royal & SunAlliance Chase will still be on the Wednesday of the meeting, this year's renewal will be run at 2.35 p.m., after the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and prior to the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
In recent years the Royal & SunAlliance Chase had been run as the fourth race on Wednesday.