The seven-year-old, who is the general 8/1 favourite for next year's JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, will face nine rivals in the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest.
After finishing second in the Ballymore at Cheltenham in March, the Roger Brookhouse-owned gelding went one better on his final start last season by claiming victory at the top level in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
George said: "He is great and is ready to go. He schooled on grass on Monday, and Noel Fehily came in to ride him, and he jumped well.
"There is a long winter ahead of us, but it is a good place to start off. He has had a clean run since he has come in.
"He is the same as he always was in that he is a very laid-back horse, but he wakes up at the races when he needs to.
"Two and a half is probably his ideal trip, but this is a good starting point. It is a good track to start them on, and we will see where we are with him after that."
Lining up in opposition once again will be the Ben Pauling-trained Kildisart, who finished down the field when the pair last met at the Merseyside track in April.
Pauling said: "It's a hell of race to start off in. It took him a run to get fit last year, and he might just need it again.
"The ground is fine, so we have decided to let him take his chance - and he is certainly a novice chaser we are looking forward to seeing. He has been brilliant schooling.
"He didn't turn up at Aintree on his final start, it was just a case of one run too many, so a line can be put through that."
Bangor Benefit for Maria's?
Stuart Edmunds feels conditions should be ideal for Maria's Benefit in her bid to make it two out of two over fences in the Canter Carpet Mares' Novice Chase at Bangor on Wednesday.
After making an impressive chasing debut when ploughing through the mud at Newton Abbot last month, the six-year-old will look put her rivals to sword once again by taking a step up to Listed level in her stride.
Edmunds said: "I'm very happy with her. That was a good run at Newton Abbot and she jumped very well. She put up with that ground, but she will prefer the good to soft at Bangor.
"That has brought her along a bit and we have hopefully just maintained that at home. She has had plenty of schooling ahead of both runs and I'm very happy.
"Jester Jet is closely rated to her, but her best is over a longer trip, although her trainer Tom Lacey is a clever man and you have to respect everyone."
While the Newport Pagnell handler is keen to get the latest step out of the way, he has in the back of his mind a plan should all go well for the Grade Two-winning hurdler.
He said: "We are just going to take it step by step with her at the moment.
"There is a nice novice race at Kempton around Christmas (Wayward Lad) that could be for her."
