Boothill, a two-time winner of Ascot’s Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase, leads the entries for this year's race on November 23. The Harry Fry-trained nine-year-old has thrived on the Berkshire track, but his rising handicap mark, now 158—3lbs higher than last year and 18lbs above his rating two years ago—has Fry considering the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham as an alternative.
Fry commented on the Ascot website, "He’ll be entered in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, and we’ll decide whether to run him there or wait for Ascot, where he’d aim for a third straight win in this race." He noted that while Boothill performs exceptionally well at Ascot, the higher weight is a factor.
Dan Skelton has entered recent Cheltenham winner Calico and new acquisition Harper’s Brook, while Venetia Williams’ entries include course winner Martator and Djelo, adding strong contenders to the competitive field.