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The Paul Nicholls-trained Sanctuaire could only finish third behind Sprinter Sacre and Kumbeshwar, who is trained by Alan King, in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase but the seven-year-old reversed the form with the runner-up with a straightforward success in the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27.

Nicholls, the most successful current trainer in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase with four wins to his name, has also engaged Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase third Edgardo Sol and Shooters Wood, who is unbeaten in three chase starts at Cheltenham.

William’s Wishes could step up in class after posting a pair of handicap chase wins for Evan Williams, while the Noel Meade-trained Realt Dubh may bid to improve on his fifth behind Finian’s Rainbow at The Festival last year.

The entries are completed by Somersby, who would be a rare Cheltenham Festival runner for Mick Channon, Grade One winner Tataniano, who is trained by Richard Rowe, and Free World, who has ed Tim Vaughan after spells with Paul Nicholls and Arthur Moore.