The Yorkshire course is again open for buisiness on Saturday afternoon with the Charlie Hall the focal point.
They come from far and near for the chance of glory and the Irish trainer, Mouse Morris, is leaning towards a trip across the water with First Lieutenant, rather than letting him line up in Grade 1 company at Down Royal in Northern Ireland.
The seven-year-old beat subsequent Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.
He then went close to following up last season in the RSA Chase, when a good second to Bobs Worth.
First Lieutenant made a satisfactory return to action when fourth behind Sizing Europe at Gowran in a Grade 2 and he has the option of tackling him again in the Champion Chase this weekend, but Morris is favouring a trip to England,
He has tasted success at a Charlie Hall meeting with Boss Doyle, who won the West Yorkshire Hurdle on the same card in 2000 and 2001. The trainer said: "Decent ground will be a factor. His first run will have brought him on a good deal, I'd expect him to strip a lot fitter for that.
"It was his jumping more than anything that caught him out, Davy [Russell, jockey] said he was a bit rusty, and the trip would have been sharp enough for him but he was staying on again at the finish.
"Three miles on good ground would appear to be his optimum, so I'd expect him to run well."
Time For Rupert also has a couple of options with Ascot the other possibility for Paul Webber's Gold Cup fifth. "Time For Rupert has been entered in the Charlie Hall and at Ascot [United House Gold Cup], so I think we will need to take a little bit of time to look at the entries and see what's what," said Webber.
"Wetherby would be the preference, having run well around there before, but it will be a day or two before we really know. We certainly intend to run him this weekend and he seems in very good form.
"He has done very well over the summer – he is a little bit stronger and heavier – and he has done plenty of work, so we are looking forward to the weekend.
"Last year was about getting his confidence back having bled in the RSA Chase the year before. There aren't many bigger races than the Charlie Hall Chase as it's a Grade 2 worth £100,000."
*THE Scottish trained Hawkeyethenoo is to fly the flag in one of the world's richest races, the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint on December 9.
Trainer Jim Goldie's improving speedster has been giving an invitation to run in the £1.2m dash having enjoyed a memorable season that included victory in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood.
The Uplawmoor trainer said: "His best carrer run was when second in the Group 2 race at Ascot on Champions Day recently. We will give him a quiet time before building him up for Hong Kong.
"The plan is to go as you don't get invites like this very often and it should be a great adventure. He will fly out from Stanstead and he will handle any ground as long as it's not too firm."
