First Gold, who regained winning ways when a 14-length winner of the Martell Cognac Cup 12 months ago, heads a field of eight declared for this year's renewal at Aintree tomorrow.
The French raider, who bypasses Saturday's Grand National, will be making a quick reappearance in the Grade Two event after making the running to finish fifth in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Valley Henry, who finished fourth to the 11-year-old last year, reopposes for his new connections of trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie.
Fondmort and Hand Inn Hand lead the opposition with trainer Martin Pipe triple-handed in the three-mile-one-furlong contest.
Seebald, Cyfor Malta, and Tiutchev are set to represent the champion trainer with Tony McCoy partnering the last named.
Arthur Moore's Glenelly Gale, who finished second to Moscow Flyer in November, is the only Irish challenger and the 10-year-old completes the field.
