Last year's runner-up Carole's Destrier bids to go one better in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.
Neil Mulholland's nine-year-old found only subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup third Native River too strong in the former Hennessy Gold Cup 12 months ago, but disappointed when rivalry was renewed in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Carole's Destrier has not been seen in competitive action since that eclipse last Christmas, but Mulholland is confident his charge is fit and raring to go.
He said: "We are very happy with Carole's Destrier. He has been away a couple of times, including at Newbury last week, and we have had a good, clean preparation.
"He went there first time out last season and finished second. You can never go into a race like this bullish, but hopefully he will run well."
Carole's Destrier is one of three Mulholland representatives in the prestigious handicap as Pilgrims Bay and Southfield Royale are also in the mix.
Pilgrims Bay was sixth in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton last time, with Southfield Royale pulled up in the same race.
Mulholland added: "Pilgrims Bay is fine. The ground would have been a bit softer than he would have wanted at Wincanton and that run would have brought him on.
"They should go a nice gallop at Newbury, which will suit him, and fingers crossed he can play a part in the second half of the race.
"Southfield Royale has first-time blinkers. He has got the ability and, if the blinkers bring the best out him, he could run very well."
Nico de Boinville is hopeful 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree can show his true colours, despite the burden of top weight.
The Mark Bradstock-trained 10-year-old suffered an overreach on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, but is reported firing on all cylinders as he bids to emulate his half-brother Carruthers, who claimed this prize in 2011.
De Boinville told Racing UK: "If he performs as he did in Punchestown (third in Punchestown Gold Cup in April), you'd like to think he'll have a very good shout.
"We pulled up at Wetherby because there was a problem and he hadn't really done much, but he feels good in himself and has come back from that over-reach."
Coneygree heads a 21-strong field for the three-and-a-quarter-mile feature.
Topping the ante-post betting is Total Recall, trained by Willie Mullins. The Closutton handler also runs Pleasant Company.
Harry Fry's American, Nicky Henderson's pair of Whisper and Vyta Du Roc and the Paul Nicholls-trained duo Present Man and Braqueur D'Or also stood their ground at Thursday's declaration stage.
"One of the great performances in jump race history"
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) November 29, 2017
The return of #Denman.#Hennessy#LadbrokesTrophy pic.twitter.com/VRkJ91JitJ
Nicholls recalls Denman's day of destiny
When it comes to great winners of the Ladbrokes Trophy, formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup, there are few in recent years that match up to the mighty Denman.
His success in 2007 would be the start of a whirlwind few months for the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding, ultimately ending with victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following March.
Having finished the previous season with victory in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, the then seven-year-old was sent off a 5-1 chance to carry top weight of 11st 12lb to glory and make a winning return to action.
Taking it up five out, the Paul Barber-owned gelding galloped on resolutely to defeat Dream Alliance by 11 lengths, in a display described by commentator Simon Holt as "one of the great performances in the long history of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup".
Although a decade has passed since the horse affectionately known as 'The Tank' ground his rivals into submission in the historic handicap - which he would win again in 2009 with a tremendous weight-carrying performance - it is a memory that is still vivid in the mind of the Ditcheat handler.
Nicholls said: "It is astonishing how time has gone by. That was an amazing day. It was the first of his two Hennessy wins and he was on a roll at the time, winning the Gold Cup later that season.
"He won the RSA and we thought we would get him right for the Hennessy. We gave him lots of time to get over the RSA.
"It is not easy to get them right first time out for a race like that, but he was bang on for it. He was tough and classy and carrying that 11st 12lb - it was just a big day.
"You are concerned carrying top weight, but as Phil Smith (handicapper) has said, a lot of top weights win handicaps as they are the best horse in the race.
"We thought he had a big chance, but I was slightly nervous as it was his first run of the season and the Hennessy is a competitive race. But he absolutely bolted in
"It was a great day and he was a great horse, he will always be part of the history of the race."
This year's renewal also marks another milestone moment for the 10-times champion trainer, being the 30th anniversary of him winning the race as a jockey for the second time.
Having teamed up with trainer David Barons to win in 1986 with Broadheath, the pair combined to good effect again 12 months later through Playschool, who would also claim the Welsh National and Irish Gold Cup.
Nicholls said: "I won it on 1986 on Broadheath and that was a bit of a surprise, as he was just an ordinary handicapper. I remember the very next race after the Hennessy was a novice chase and Playschool had his first run over fences.
"I had just won the Hennessy and I didn't care what David Barons told me to do. Instead of making the running, which he asked me to do, I dropped him out last. He jumped well and turning into the straight I gave him a kick and he won.
"I remember coming back into the winner's enclosure and David was steaming as I hadn't done what he'd told me to do. I just said, 'This horse will win next year's Hennessy', and he did. It was astonishing really, and I will always remember that. I will never forget it.
"I remember him running in the Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton first time out. I was virtually off the course and got unseated at the last that day at Kempton.
"Then he was second in a handicap at Cheltenham and I knew he would improve a lot for that run. I was really confident he would win the Hennessy and he did.
"I've had three winners in the race as a trainer and two as a jockey. A lot is about luck and being in the right place at the right time, but the Hennessy is a race that has played a big part in my life."
