Sam Twiston-Davies believes Politologue can "start his season with a bang" in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
Twiston-Davies has partnered the grey on 14 of his 16 starts since arriving in Britain and was on board for what was arguably a career-best performance on his latest outing when defeating the Willie Mullins-trained Min in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April.
After deciding to go freelance the following month, Twiston-Davies is no longer the number one jockey to multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls - with Harry Cobden now in that privileged position.
However, with Cobden in action at Haydock on Saturday to partner Clan Des Obeaux in the Betfair Chase, Twiston-Davies keeps the ride on Politologue on his return to action.
"It is nice to be reunited with Politologue and this race looks a good starting point for him," said the jockey.
"Ascot is a fair track and although it takes a bit of jumping, he has got experience around there and I'm really hoping we can start his season with a bang.
"I've schooled him and ridden work on him. I sat on him last week and he seems in good nick.
"Winning at Aintree was probably the highlight of my season. He jumped and travelled well and he was good and strong at the line.
"I would love it if he could do that again on Saturday."
Nicholls has saddled a record five previous winners of this Grade Two contest, with Master Minded (2010 and 2011) and another John Hales-owned grey Al Ferof (2013 and 2014) both dual winners.
A successful comeback over two miles and five furlongs will likely earn Politologue a first appearance over three miles in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Twiston-Davies added: "John Hales is a good man who has had many big winners over the years and hopefully I can have another for him on Saturday.
"They are looking to try three miles in the future. He is such a good jumper and travels well and now he is more relaxed in his races, it opens up the possibility to go further in time."
Kim Bailey's Charbel met Politologue on a couple of occasions last season and was less than six lengths behind the Nicholls runner when fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
Charbel rediscovered the winning trail in a Chepstow handicap on his latest outing, giving 12lb and a beating to last weekend's BetVictor Gold Cup hero Baron Alco.
Bailey said: "This is a step up for him, taking on Politologue again, but hopefully he'll run well.
"I was delighted with him at Chepstow, I've been happy with him since and hopefully this is another step back up the ladder for him."
Baron Alco's trainer Gary Moore bids for further big-race success with Benatar, who was due to join his stablemate in last Saturday's Cheltenham feature before being declared a non-runner on the morning of the race.
Having rounded off the last campaign with an excellent effort to finish third in the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Benatar could only finish fourth when a hot favourite on his reappearance at Newton Abbot last month, but Moore hopes he can show his true colours in Berkshire.
"We didn't run him last week because his bloods weren't completely right, but he seems in good form," said the Sussex-based trainer.
"He was disappointing at Newton Abbot, but it was a mess of a race and hopefully on a bigger track, where hopefully they'll go more of a gallop, we'll get a true assessment of his ability.
"He's got his work cut out, but hopefully he'll run a nice race and then we can take him and Baron Alco for the race at Cheltenham (Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, December 15)."
Nicky Henderson's Gold Present, the Charlie Longsdon-trained Hammersly Lake and Sizing Granite from Colin Tizzard's yard complete the field.
Old foes renew hostilities
We Have A Dream bids to reverse recent form with If The Cap Fits in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
The Nicky Henderson-trained We Have A Dream firmly established himself as one of last season's leading juvenile hurdlers after winning his first four starts following his arrival from France.
A setback ruled him out of an intended appearance in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but he was a brilliant winner on his final outing of the campaign at Aintree.
The Martaline gelding was a hot favourite to make a successful return to action in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton a fortnight ago, but had to make do with minor honours in third behind stablemate Verdana Blue - with Harry Fry's If The Cap Fits splitting the pair in second.
Henderson hopes his charge can turn the tables on the Fry runner in this Grade Two contest.
"It was just a matter of whether we ran Call Me Lord or We Have A Dream. Call Me Lord probably wants softer ground so that is why we are bringing We Have A Dream," said Henderson.
"I was pleased with him at Wincanton. He ran a good race making the running.
"If The Cap Fits finished in front of him, but we will probably come on for it.
"He wasn't desperately in need of the run, but he did need it and when he blew up and Verdana Blue went past him, Daryl (Jacob) said he was not going to go after her.
"It was a nice first run."
High-class bumper performer If The Cap Fits won each of his three starts over hurdles last season, completing his hat-trick at Kempton on Boxing Day before missing the remainder of the campaign.
Fry was pleased with his performance at Wincanton and expects to learn this weekend whether his Champion Hurdle ambitions are realistic.
Fry told At The Races: "He had a really nice comeback run in the Elite. It was only his fourth run over hurdles and he was a bit ring-rusty, but he seems to have come forward nicely from that outing.
"We've set out to try to find out if he could be up to Champion Hurdle class. He bumped into a race-fit and in-form Verdana Blue the last day, but he's got to take another step forward if we are seriously going to consider that route.
"Saturday is probably his last chance to prove to us that he is up to going down the Champion Hurdle route and if he wasn't, then we'd possibly look to switch to fences.
"It's a big day for him and we're looking forward to seeing if he can climb further up the ladder."
Paul Nicholls sends the admirable Old Guard into battle once more following his fine effort to finish third in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last Sunday.
Oliver Sherwood's Rayvin Black, Brian Ellison's Tomngerry and Babbling Stream, trained by Brian Barr, all have plenty to find on ratings.