A total of 13 horses stood their ground for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton Park following today's final declaration stage.
Henrietta Knight has taken out triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, who is due to run at Leopardstown on Tuesday, as well as Impek and is set to rely on last year's winner Edredon Bleu in the £200,000 St Stephen's Day showpiece.
Francois Doumen runs First Gold, who has a good record in the race having won it in 2000, finishing fourth the following year and third last season.
First Gold finished ninth under top weight on his return to action in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury last month but the Chantilly-based trainer believes the 11-year-old did not give his running that day.
"I think his comeback race does not reflect his form because we chose to have him at the back of the field, because he was giving so much weight away," Doumen said.
"He wasn't happy at the back so it was not a true reflection of his form."
Doumen reports First Gold in good order and he added: "The horse doesn't age - he's very well. He's proved he likes Kempton, he's in top form and I've got to run him. He will wear blinkers again and he'll have the 'Gladiator' Tony McCoy on board and he will be ideal for that horse."
Declarations for the Stan James King George VI Chase: Azertyuiop, Calling Brave, Edredon Bleu, First Gold, Fondmort, Hot Shots, Kicking King, Kingscliff, Le Roi Miguel, Lord Sam, Seebald, Therealbandit, Tiutchev (13).