Rockforce can underline the strength-in-depth of Paul Nicholls's team of two-mile chasers with victory at Kempton today.
His trainer is the undisputed master of the division at present, with Champion Chase winner Call Equiname and "heir apparent" Flagship Uberalles both in his care.
Nicholls's useful pair Dines and Green Green Desert would be stars in other stables while promising novices such as Fadalko, Executive Decision and Young Deveraux give the future a rosy look too.
Rockforce would be a match for all bar the yard's championship aspirants.
A smart handicapper on the Flat for Mick Channon, he proved a quick learner on moving to Shepton Mallet last season and won three times over fences.
The eight-year-old looked particularly good in disposing of Martin Pipe's highly-regarded pair Gris D'Estruval and Royal Predica at Ascot last February so it was a bitter blow when injury forced him to miss the rest of the season.
Though his absence from the top novice events meant Rockforce was unable to prove how good he was, it also ensures he starts this campaign on a lenient weight in handicaps.
He has been pencilled in for a tilt at the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham and should book his place in the line-up with a reappearance win in the Hanworth Handicap Chase today.
Rising Trout can continue to make up for lost time by winning the Tote Credit Club Hurdle.
He has been beset by training problems since showing useful form in National Hunt Flat races in 1997-8, and was restricted to just one outing last term.
But he has been nursed back to fitness by Bob Buckler, whose decision to fit him with a tonguestrap paid off as the gelding galloped away with a two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap at Southwell last month.
The stoutly-bred Rising Trout remains attractively treated in today's race, and will benefit considerably from a step up to three miles.
Mary Reveley should maintain her reputation as the trainer-to-follow at Sedgefield.
Her Carrick Troop won by a distance at Market Rasen at Christmas and races off a mark only 8 lb higher in the Ramside Event Catering Handicap Chase.
Stable-companion Legendry Line met a useful rival when short-headed by Paris Pike at Kelso in November and can resume winning ways in the Alphameric Solutions To Bookmakers Novices' Chase.
Springtime Miss looks a good bet for the Malibu Maiden at Lingfield.
Unlike probable market-rivals Ilissus and Royal Flame she has rock-solid form credentials, having finished second in two handicaps on this course late last year.
This step up to a mile and a quarter will also be ideal for a filly who lost her chance with a slow start when racing over a mile last time out.
Blowing Wind continued his ascent towards the higher reaches of the novice chase ranks with a sure-footed display at Leicester yesterday in the Groby Novices' Chase.
