The 16 entries for this year’s Betfair Chase, which takes place on November 20 in Haydock, include three – time winners Bristol de Mai and Cheltenham Gold Cup finalist A Plus Tard.

Bristol de Mai has proven to be the toughest nut to break in this competition since 2017 and aims to emulate the four-time winning Kauto star.

His only failure was at the hands of LostinTranslation in 2019, when Colin Tizard was re-appointed.

Bristol de Mai’s last outing was at the Grand National, where he was shot with a heavy load.

Henry of Bromhead has been targeting the A-plus Tard at Mercedes for some time.

Tizard could be represented by veteran Native River, while recent Carlisle scorer Fidelleronteruf is another possibility for the team.

Nikki Henderson has a strong pair of possibilities, both owned by JP McManus, Champ and Chanti House.

With the Chantry House race set to take place in the Sundown on Sunday, he did not see the champ after entering the Gold Cup after a fine run of more than two miles in Newbury.

“I think he’re invested a lot in the Newbury jump, and he’d overdone it, and he would not have jumped that day until he reached Cheltenham,” Henderson told Sky Sports Racing.

“He had surgery and we are very happy with the experience it provides and he is moving well.

“For me the plan is always to go to Haydock for a completely catastrophic betfair chase – I beat everything I ran, but Bristol de Mai succeeds in it!

“He has to go left-handed, so he’s a little limited, and we think we’re going to start with Betfair. “

Imperial Ora got the option from Kim Bailey, and Paul Nichols entered the next goal.

Other entries from Ireland include Chatham Street Lad and Escaria Ten, who finished third in the National Hunt Chase.

Clontav Castle, Lord du Messin, Royal Pagail, Sam Brown and Patient Waiting complete the list.

The sponsors installed a plus tard as the 5-2 favorite, followed by Bristol de Mai 7-2.