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The final race in Sky Bet's "Road to Cheltenham" is staged at Kempton Park this Saturday, February 27, with the £30,000 Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle.
Wiltshire trainer Alan King accounts for three entries, headed by Sky Bet's 5/4 favourite Winter Escape. The J P McManus-owned five-year-old is unbeaten in two starts, having recorded two facile victories over hurdles at Doncaster earlier this season. He is a 20/1 chance with Sky Bet for Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, March 15.
King could also be represented on Saturday by the four-year-old Oceane (8/1), a winner over the course and distance in October, and Ardamir (25/1) a winner in France but disappointing on his two outings in Britain.
Marracudja (Paul Nicholls) is Sky Bet's 2/1 second favourite and was last seen out when third to Altior over the course and distance on Boxing Day, while Welsh Shadow (Dan Skelton, 7/2) was a Listed winner at Haydock in November before finishing fourth in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown Park in January.
Paul Nicholls, based at Ditcheat in Somerset, said about Marracudja: "The forecast is dry all week and he is one who loves better ground.
"He will run on Saturday and the quick track at Kempton will suit him.
"I am not convinced about Cheltenham for him. I would prefer to go to Aintree or Ayr with him. He will be an awesome chaser next season."
Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson boasts a fabulous record in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, having won the contest seven times, most recently with Days Of Heaven in 2015.
The one entry from Seven Barrows this year is Omessa Has (16/1), a four-year-old fillywho won at Auteuil in May and has been placed multiple times at Listed level.
Owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, she has not yet appeared in Britain and is also entered the same day for the Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) and in a novices' hurdle at Southwell the next day
Henderson said: "We have not run Omessa Has so I really don't know much about her.
"I like her - she is a sweet thing and is fit enough to run at the weekend.
"She has jumped fences as a four-year-old and had lots of races.
"We want to see what handicap mark she gets and will put her in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham."
Michael Shinners, Racing PR Manager at Sky Bet, said: "The Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle brings our 'Road To Cheltenham' series to a close and could provide some late clues for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
"Winter Escape could not have been more impressive in winning his first two races and a win for him on Saturday would see him firmly enter the picture for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
"Several of the other entries have an interesting profile and could be targeted at the major spring festivals."
Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, Sky Bet odds: 5/4 Winter Escape; 2/1 Marracudja; 7/2 Welsh Shadow; 8/1 Oceane; 14/1 Cold March; 16/1 Harley Rebel, Omessa Has, Unison; 20/1 Gwafa; 25/1 Impulsive American, Ardamir
