King George looks a clash to savour - but Allaho isn't facing the starter yet

Looking at the Betfair Chase and then the King George entries is like asking for the bad news before the good news.

As we move deeper into the era in which prevailing wisdom has it that a staying chaser can be asked to peak no more than twice in a season, it is becoming clearer which races are seen as expendable. Maybe that million-pound bonus was acting as more than just a publicity stunt after all.

The six Betfair Chase entries are exactly those you would expect. A Plus Tard will take an identical path to Cheltenham as last season; Bristol De Mai will never go anywhere else as long as he races; Frodon and Eldorado Allen will be given every opportunity going, as will Royale Pagaille so long as it's at Haydock.