Balko Des Flos trained by Henry De Bromhead is looking to get the chaser back in amongst the National Hunt scene nice and early ready for his defence of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
He is looking start the seven year olds season in one of his favourite races of the year the PWC Champion Chase and one that holds some special memories for him and his connections as Sizing Europe won this race for him four times in a row at Gowran park and he is hoping that Balko Des Flos can do the same in this Grade 2.
The Gigginstown owned Gelding was a huge surprise package of the season with two huge wins in the Galway Plate and his best to date in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival beating Un De Sceaux .
That has now set him up this year to be a real contender this year for some big races with seeing how he comes out of his seasonal debut to then see where his trainer plans on taking him.
The seven year old heads a current field of 15 for the Grade 2 race on Saturday with some familiar faces also making the field meaning it will be a tough start to proceedings for the Festival winner.