The two-mile-one-furlong contest has attracted a top-class field, with no less than four of the first six in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase among them.

Alan King's Cheltenham favourite Voy Por Ustedes is Cashmans 6-4 market leader for the weekend event, while the David Pipe-trained Well Chief is a 9-4 chance, despite being off the track for nearly 22 months.

The eight-year-old has been sidelined by leg problems since winning the Betfred Celebration Chase in April 2005, but Pipe has pencilled in a possible return.

"Well Chief is entered for Saturday," the Pond House handler confirmed.

"We will see what his sessions are like this week - Timmy (Murphy) is coming down to school him one day this week.

"He's in very good form, but we will leave it until late before we decide."

Pipe is under no illusions that Well Chief, who finished second behind Moscow Flyer two years ago in the Queen Mother, would be facing a trial by fire on Saturday, though.

"If we go on Saturday, we are going for the experience. Whether he wins or not, he will improve for the run. You are probably going to see a mini Queen Mother in itself," Pipe said.

"We will give him the entry, have a look and have a talk to Timmy and (owner) David Johnson during the week.

"He seems very well at home and we just want to keep him in one piece."

Well Chief is a general 5-1 chance for the Queen Mother while Foreman and Ashley Brook, who are both entered for Saturday, are 10-1 with BetDirect for the Festival.

Foreman and Voy Por Ustedes have clashed three times, with King's charge coming out on top in the Arkle at Cheltenham, while Foreman was the winner in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.

"He is on course for it. He is at home and looking great," said trainer Thierry Doumen of his 4-1 chance.

"The plan is to run at Newbury and if everything goes according to plan he will be set for Cheltenham.

"I was pretty happy with the horse at Kempton. I thought he gave a good performance.

"We were pretty unlucky considering the way the race went, it was a bit of a messy race and the main thing was completing, but I think the horse did well to finish third.

"On the official ratings there is only 1lb between them and I think quality-wise, Voy Por Ustedes and our horse are very similar."