Last year's winner Overturn heads a field of 33 remaining in the StanJames.com Chester Cup on Wednesday following the confirmation stage.
Donald McCain's dual purpose performer took this race 12 months ago off a mark of 99 and carrying 8st 13lb.
Handed a rating of 106, he has to lump top weight in this two-and-a-quarter-mile test and is fresh from a jumping campaign that ended with him finishing second in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Overturn is joint head of the handicap with Barbican, who ran in the Sagaro Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday, after the original top weight, Nehaam was withdrawn.
His trainer John Gosden has also taken out Palazzo Bianco, but could still be represented by November Handicap winner Zuider Zee.
Other significant absentees were Dermot Weld's Sense Of Purpose and the James Fanshawe-trained Old Hundred.
Horses prominent in the ante-post betting to stand their ground include Gulf Of Naples, Cesarewitch winner Never Can Tell, Apache, Mount Athos and Shubaat.
However, with only the top 17 in the handicap allowed to run, places in the line-up will still be tight.
Update:
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