Anthony Honeyball believes Regal Encore will have to call on the best of his ability at Ascot today if he is to taste victory in the bet365 Handicap Chase.
The Beaminster handler fears his eight-year-old's chances of winning the two-mile-five-furlong prize may be compromised after being allotted a mark of 144 on his first start in handicap company over fences.
Although taking time to get his act together since switching to the larger obstacles, the 2013 Champion Bumper runner-up finally opened his fencing account last month with victory in a novice contest at Plumpton.
Honeyball said: "I think he has been set a stiff task by the handicapper to make his handicap chase debut off 144. Looking at it from a numbers point of view he is up against it.
"We thought we would try him in the race as it is quite valuable and it will be a good experience for him in a race of that nature.
"He was second in a Champion Bumper and from time to time, like at Plumpton last time, when he does win he can take you back. He is fit and well and we are still excited about the horse as he is a nice horse to have in the yard."
The outcome of the race for Salubrious, the representative of last year's winning trainer Paul Nicholls, will have a significant bearing on his destination at the Cheltenham Festival in March, according to his part-owner Andy Stewart, who has previously won the contest with Tatenen.
Stewart said: "If he wins at Ascot on Saturday we would probably aim him at the Ryanair and if for one reason he doesn't then I think we would go for one of the handicaps at the Festival.
"He won a very competitive graduation chase at Carlisle and it was the trip that beat him last time, that is why we have dropped him back.
"He is in very good form and we are quite optimistic. With Sam (Twiston-Davies) going to Haydock to ride The New One we've got Nick Scholfield on and I've a lot of time for him.
"I've won this race a couple of times before with Tatenen so it is one that I look forward to."
Nicky Richards believes the best is yet to come from recent Newcastle winner Bernardelli.
He said: "He is in grand fettle and hopefully he is an improving horse. I think he is going the right way so hopefully he will run a big race.
"He handles the soft very well, so we know that will be in his favour. He is a nice horse and we will find out more about him."