Humphrey Bogart set for Sky Bet Dovecote debut

An 8/1 chance with the sponsors, he finished fifth behind Harzannd in the 2016 Investec Derby but has not raced since the August of that year.

His new trainer Nicky Henderson sai: "I am very happy with Humphrey Bogart. He has schooled very well and looks a natural over his hurdles. He seems to enjoy jumping and is very slick. I don't know yet if he will definitely run at Kempton on Saturday - I have got to talk to the owners (Chelsea Thoroughbreds) about what we do. We will make a decision later in the week.

"I think the Kempton race should suit him and if he runs, he will go there with a good chance. The ground should suit him. He is nice horse with a lot of quality and we are looking forward to seeing him run."

Fellow classy flat recruits Scarlet Dragon (Alan King, 4/1) and Carntop (Jamie Snowden, 10/1) could also make their first starts over timber at the weekend

Scarlett Dragon was beaten a head in the Group Three September Stakes on Polytrack at Kempton Park in September for Eve Johnson-Houghton, while Humphrey Bogart actually beat Carntop by half a length in the 2016 Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield Park.

Mont Des Avaloirs (Paul Nicholls, 2/1 favourite with Sky Bet) is top-rated among Saturday's entries on 141 after finishing third behind Summerville Boy and Kalashnikov in the Grade One Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown Park.

Destrier (Dan Skelton, 4/1) is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles at Leicester and Wetherby, while Global Citizen (7/1) made an impressive debut for Ben Pauling in a novices' hurdle at Southwell.

Other interesting contenders include Michael's Mount (Ian Williams, 6/1) a useful middle-distance handicapper on the Flat who won comfortably on his hurdling debut at Doncaster earlier this month, and Shoal Bay (Colin Tizzard, 11/1), a close fifth to Western Ryder when last seen at Cheltenham in December.

Four-year-old French import Ballywood (Alan King, 12/1) is entered, although he also has the option of the G2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle earlier on the card.

Michael Shinners, Racing PR Manager at Sky Bet, said: "The Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle looks all set to be a fascinating affair.

"Mont Des Avaloirs, Sky Bet's 2/1 favourite, brings solid G1 hurdle form to the table while Humphrey Bogart, Carntop and Scarlet Dragon were all very smart Flat performers at their best.

"We are now entering the final countdown to Cheltenham, with just three weeks to go until the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle gets the four-day spectacular underway."

Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, Sky Bet odds: 2/1 Mont Des Avaloirs; 4/1 Destrier, Scarlet Dragon; 6/1 Michael's Mount; 7/1 Global Citizen; 8/1 Humphrey Bogart; 10/1 Carntop; 11/1 Shoal Bay; 12/1 Ballywood; 25/1 Harmonise, Rockpoint