Brian Hughes maintains The Real Whacker partnership for Betfair bid

Charlie Hall Chase hero The Real Whacker will take his place in a field of nine as he bids to follow up his Wetherby success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Unbeaten in three novice starts over fences two seasons ago, including a Cheltenham Festival victory over Gerri Colombe, Patrick Neville’s stable star was unable to add to his tally in his first year in open company last term, but did run with credit in the King George and the Cotswold Chase.

The eight-year-old unseated Sam Twiston-Davies on his return to action in the Kerry National at Listowel in September, but got his career back on track when making much of the running in the hands of Brian Hughes in the biggest race of the year at Wetherby earlier this month and Neville is hoping for more of the same on Merseyside this weekend from the partnership.

“The plan is to run and we’re going there all guns blazing,” said the Wensleydale-based trainer.

“He’s in great form and came out of the Charlie Hall well, so we said we’d go again.

“Hopefully the ground is OK and won’t go too heavy. I think they’re giving heavy rain there on Saturday, but you never know, the weather forecasters have got it wrong a few times before.

“It’s a good race, but the horse is back to himself and that’s the main thing.”

Ventia Williams’ Royale Pagaille, who won the race last season and was second the year before, is set to line up again and will appreciate the forecast rain over Haydock Park ahead of Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame, second in the race last term and also behind The Real Whacker in the Charlie Hall is on the list in first-time blinkers with Sam Twiston-Davies riding, alongside Shark Hanlon’s King George VI hero Hewick.

Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor has been declared and so too has Dan Skelton’s Cheltenham Festival winner Grey Dawning, who makes his seasonal debut in the race.

There is a French runner in Gold Tweet, who will travel over for trainer Gabriel Leenders for the contest, and the Irish challenge includes Gavin Cromwell’s Limerick Lace and Capodanno for Willie Mullins – with the latter added as a supplementary entry.