Master Chewy was second in the race to Hitman 12 months ago and reappears having had a wind operation in the close season.

Matata must carry top-weight thanks to a win in a valuable race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

“Master Chewy and Matata will both like the rain that is coming up there,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, who trains in partnership with his father, Nigel.

“Obviously you would like to keep them apart, but it kind of suits them both in the schedule. They both like Aintree, both are in really good form and it is a nice early-season target for the pair of them.

“They are difficult to split as they have always been in and around the same ratings. They have both been very good servants.”

Jamie Snowden saddles Wendigo as he tunes up the gelding for a crack at the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

“He was only beaten two lengths at Kempton (on Boxing Day) behind Kitzbuhel and came down at the last when he was probably going to finish fourth behind Kitzbuhel again at Cheltenham (Brown Advisory Chase) on ground which was too quick,” said Snowden.

“He loves soft ground and stays well so hopefully he is nicely handicapped to win a big one this season all being well.”

Sue Smith enjoyed her finest moment at Aintree with 2013 National hero Aurora’s Encore and is lining up another magical Merseyside memory with Prairie Wolf.

Prairie Wolf can boast winning course and distance form from the Boxing Day fixture last year.

“It looks like a good race, but we think the horse is in great form so we think we can have a go,” said Joel Parkinson, who shares the licence with Smith.

“It is first time out so he could possibly need the run slightly, but we think we have him in good nick and he is worth a go.

“Some of the other horses are just starting to age a touch perhaps – not taking anything away from them – and the more rain that falls between now and the race will suit us and allow him to compete.”

Paul Nicholls, who has won the Old Roan four times with Kauto Star, Sound Investment, Frodon and Hitman last season, is one who does not want the rain to come, however.

“Hitman is fine and in good shape, has done well and I couldn’t be happier with him. We just don’t want it to rain,” Nicholls told Betfair. “We are looking forward to running him. He does like that track, but he is slightly better on better ground for all that he is a bit older and has run well on soft ground.”

Teddy Blue was steadily progressive for Harry Derham last season winning a handicap on his season reappearance off 131 and adding a Kempton contest off 132.

The eight-year-old would look to have a stiff enough test off 144 here, but Derham said: “We have been thinking about the Old Roan for some time. It looks a very good one, but we are looking forward to running him.”

Dan Skelton has Boombawn (Harry Skelton), Matterhorn, Etalon and Riskintheground all set to take their chance.

“This has been on the agenda for Boombawn. He was placed in it last year, so hopefully we can go a few places better this time,” Skelton told his Ladbrokes blog. “He ran really well over hurdles at Chepstow, even though that’s not really his game, and hopefully he’ll feel the benefit of that outing and go well here.

“Etalon was pulled up last time after running quite nicely on his previous start. It does feel as though the handicapper has him high enough, though. Matterhorn does run well in these big races. He’s fairly new to us, so we’re still learning about him, and you’d have to give him an each-way chance.

“Riskintheground doesn’t look particularly well handicapped against this sort of opposition. That said, he always runs well in these types of races.”