Make A Stand, the 1997 Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner, is among 14 entries for the £50,000 Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on December 28th.

The Martin Pipe-trained eight-year-old has been off the course for over two and a half years since sustaining a leg injury at Aintree.

But he has reportedly been pleasing connections in his homework and in October, Pipe admitted his charge was "going well".

Pipe and Nicky Henderson are responsible for no less than eight of the entries, which include this year's Triumph Hurdle winner Katarino and Dato Star.

Peter Niven is expected to be out of action for about eight weeks as a result of injuries sustained in a spill at Sedgefield on Tuesday.

The jockey suffered neck injuries when brought down on Carrick Troop in a maiden chase.