Racing:Kauto Star will face eight rivals in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.
Paul Nicholls' crack chaser bids to enhance his already watertight reputation with a third consecutive Grade One success.
The Nicky Richards-trained Monet's Garden also takes his chance, while Henrietta Knight's Racing Demon, the mount of Timmy Murphy, is still engaged in the three-mile Christmas feature.
Paddy Power Gold Cup and boylesports.com Gold Cup winner Exotic Dancer represents the Jonjo O'Neill team and will be ridden by Tony McCoy.
Monkerhostin, second to Kicking King in last year's renewal, will bid to go one better for the Philip Hobbs yard.
In-form Pond House handler David Pipe is double-handed with outsiders Commercial Flyer and Puntal, while Ollie Magern returns to the scene of his Feltham Novices' Chase victory of 2004.
Peter Bowen's dual Grade Two scorer Ballycassidy completes the line-up.
Bowen's Yes Sir, who goes for this year's Feltham rather than the King George, Mister McGoldrick and L'Ami were the three defections at the final declaration stage.
Tony Dobbin, who will ride Monet's Garden, is unfazed at the prospect of taking on Kauto Star.
Richards' progressive grey is second favourite for the King George having lived up to all expectations on his seasonal bow at Carlisle in October.
"He (Kauto Star) looks an exceptional animal but there is no point in being scared of one horse," Dobbin told At The Races.
"We are very confident. A lot of people have been saying that Kempton should suit Kauto Star but it will also suit our fellow and Kauto Star has never raced against anything like our fellow before.
"Three miles on a flat course is going to really suit us."
Exotic Dancer comes into the contest seeking a high-profile hat-trick but connections acknowledge that this represents his acid test.
Owner Sir Robert Ogden's racing manager Barry Simpson said: "He's in very good form and we're delighted with the progress he's made since his win last time.
"We fully realise he's some way below the level of horses like Monet's Garden and Kauto Star but we go there with a realistic chance of finishing in the frame.
"Fortunately AP (McCoy) is back on board and I think he probably wishes he'd been on board last time!
"One thing we are going to get in this race is a very strong pace and that's something we've always believed the horse has wanted."
Monkerhostin has been absolute a credit to the Hobbs team over the years and is reported to be in tip-top condition for the King George.
The nine-year-old came from the clouds in last season's Boxing Day feature, which was staged at Sandown, and finished a fast-diminishing neck in arrears of Kicking King.
Connections can also boast of a four-length defeat over Kauto Star in the 2005 William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.
Although that was his last success on a racecourse, Monkerhostin ran well enough behind Racing Demon in the Peterborough Chase on his seasonal debut and also benefited from a handy work-out on Saturday morning.
"He schooled fine this morning and is very well indeed," said the Somerset-based handler.
Ollie Magern has proved a source of much frustration since last season's Charlie Hall victory.
However, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding showed flickers of his true form when fourth to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase last time out.
"Ollie's in great form and has come out of his Haydock run fine," revealed his jockey Tony Evans.
"It was a really good run that day and we are thrilled to bits with him.
"He won the Feltham at Kempton, he jumps, he gallops and he tries his heart out - you can't really ask much more than that.
"It's been a bit of a mystery since the Charlie Hall but if he's on the upgrade from that Haydock run, you would like to think he'd only have one horse (Kauto Star) to beat.
"He goes there in good form and we just go there hoping for the best."