Gaelic Warrior is 5/2 favourite with Paddy Power and Sky Bet after eight horses were declared for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Croke Park was the only defector meaning the clash between the Willie Mullins juggernauts is on with Paul Townend riding the market leader and Mark Walsh aboard Fact To File. Only a neck separated them in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last time.
Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man head the home defence with last year's winner Banbridge the other Irish-trained runner.
All eyes are on Sir Gino in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle in which he'll face six rivals, the pick of which looks to be Champion Hurdle and Fighting Fifth heroine Golden Ace.
Mullins has elected to run Kitzbuhel rather than Jimmy De Seuil in the Kauto Star for which he's favourite ahead of John Francome winner Wendigo.
King George: 5/2 Gaelic Warrior, 3 Fact To File, 4 Jango Baie, 6 The Jukebox Man, 10 Djelo, 14 Banbridge, 16 Il Est Francais, 66 Master Chewy
Christmas Hurdle: 4/7 Sir Gino, 7/2 Golden Ace, 11/2 Celtic Dino, 20 Rubaud, 33 Tripoli Flyer, 50 Give It To Me Oj
Kauto Star: 15/8 Kitzbuhel, 5/2 Wendigo, 3 Salver, 8 Blueking d’Oroux, 10 Crest Of Fortune, 25 Thomas Mor
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