Six of the best in Henry VIII but Finian's Oscar bound for Cheltenham

The best novice chase of the season so far is in prospect at Sandown on Saturday with some tall reputations set to be put to the test in the randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices' Chase.

Only five entries had been received for the Grade 1, £50,000 prize on Monday and by Tuesday there was one more. However, the likelihood is that Finian's Oscar, a Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham's November meeting, could be set to return to Gloucestershire instead.

Joe Tizzard, son and assistant to trainer Colin Tizzard, said on Tuesday morning: "We felt we had to enter him as it's a Grade 1 and the sort of race he should be in. There are only five against him, but it's a great five so I think it would be more likely we go back to Cheltenham with him over two miles five on Saturday week."

The five to which Tizzard referred are Brain Power, Capitaine, Jameson, North Hill Harvey and Sceau Royal. All except for the progressive Jameson and Brain Power, who won two Listed handicaps including one at this meeting last year, were graded winners over hurdles.

The six runners have all made a brisk start over fences, too, with an aggregate of ten wins and three seconds from 13 runs. Five already have Racing Post Arkle quotes, ranging from 8-1 (Brain Power) to 33s (Capitaine).

The Henry VIII is the first Grade 1 of the season for novice chasers in Britain and its fine history has only been fortified in recent years, with the last two winners being Ar Mad and Altior.

Many Clouds draws eight

The other race on Saturday that had been reopened was the 188bet.co.uk Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, to be run in honour of the 2015 Grand National winner for the first time.

It received eight entries initially and no further entries were received on Tuesday. However, the prospect of another small field in the race remains high, with four of the eight holding alternative engagements at the weekend.

Alpha Des Obeaux could run in the John Durkan at Punchestown on Sunday, while Top Notch and Cloudy Dream are both in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on the same day and Vicente is in the Becher, also at Aintree on Saturday. The field is completed by Definitly Red, Shantou Flyer, Flying Angel (a Grade 1 winner over Aintree's Mildmay fences) and Virgilio.

Many Clouds' owner Sir Trevor Hemmings will presumably be keen to be represented by Cloudy Dream or Vicente in a race that remembers one of his most popular horses, who died after beating Thistlecrack at Cheltenham in January.