Sir Gino and Ballyburn entered for potential juggernaut Kempton clash; 22 remain in contention for Welsh Grand National

Ballyburn could be set for a surprise clash with Sir Gino at Kempton with the brilliant Cheltenham Festival winner entered for Friday's Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (1.55).

The six-year-old is odds-on favourite for the Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Saturday but he was given the option of a first start away from Ireland since his 13-length romp in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.

His appearance puts him on a potential collision course with one of jump racing's other exciting prospects as Sir Gino could make his debut over fences in the Grade 2 contest over two miles.

Nicky Henderson said Sir Gino could start his novice chasing career at Kempton but would represent the yard in the Christmas Hurdle if Constitution Hill did not run. That was the case in the Fighting Fifth, when Grade 1-winning juvenile Sir Gino posted an impressive performance in Constitution Hill's absence.

Sir Gino: it remains undecided whether he goes chasing or remains over hurdlesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Henderson said this week he would make a last-minute decision about Sir Gino's target over the Christmas period. He told the Racing Post's Unibet-sponsored Postcast show: "There's a certain part of us that says we'll keep them apart. We can do that by switching Sir Gino to fences if everything was going really well with Constitution Hill. 

"We've schooled Sir Gino over fences and he was very, very good at it. That's just possibly what we could do if everything was right, we could run him in the Wayward Lad the next day. 

"It's got to stay open and it will do. It'll be a last-minute call but I hope it goes the way everyone wants it to, that Constitution Hill will run on Boxing Day."

Ballyburn made a successful chase debut at Punchestown in November after which his trainer Willie Mullins said a trip to Britain could be next, with the champion trainer unsure of the Christmas options available in Ireland.

Introducing the Racing Post Festive Feast

"Leopardstown at Christmas would have been the obvious step for him, but there's no race for him there now," Mullins said. "If he goes to Naas he probably won't go to the Dublin Racing Festival. We'll probably have to go to England."

Nico de Boinville, who hopes to get the opportunity to ride both Henderson stars at Christmas, said: "We're just finishing off and we'll be able to tell you more on Christmas Day. Boxing Day is round the corner, we've got a few things to do in the yard and then we're all set. We've got a couple of days left, so we'll see. 

"As a jockey you'd love to separate them [Constitution Hill and Sir Gino]. I don't envy someone like Paul Townend, who in every race has got to choose between ten of them. 

"The horses do work together sometimes and it's a bit like what we used to do with Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig. I was on Sprinter and Jerry McGrath was on Simonsig. You just have to be careful and have good people on them."

Paul Nicholls could also throw in two of his brightest young talents with Kalif Du Berlais, placed at Grade 1 level behind Sir Gino last season, and Rubaud entered.

Elsewhere at Kempton, the 160-rated Boothill could top the weights in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (2.30).

Twenty-two remain in contention for the Welsh Grand National

The Coral Welsh Grand National had a pair of high-profile withdrawals in recent days, but new ante-post favourite Monbeg Genius remained on course for the prestigious handicap after featuring among 22 confirmations.

Mr Vango and last year's winner Nassalam were both ruled out this week, causing a shake-up in the market which propelled the Jonjo and AJ O'Neill-trained Monbeg Genius to the head of the betting.

Other leading fancies Galia Des Liteaux, Where It All Began and Jubilee Express were confirmed on Saturday, but Broadway Boy was not. The Coral Gold Cup runner-up was 7-1 second favourite for the December 27 highlight at Chepstow but was not put forward by Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Paint The Dream is the new topweight after the four highest-rated runners were not confirmed, with the weights raised 3lb. The maximum field size for the Welsh National is 20, with Not Sure and Gold Clermont (declared for the 2.13 Fakenham on Sunday) requiring two above them in the handicap to be removed at Thursday's declaration stage to be guaranteed a run. 

Elsewhere at Chepstow, there could be French, Irish and British runners in the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (1.40). Chantilly-based Marcel Rolland could run the experienced Nietzsche Has, while Henry de Bromhead has Punchestown winner Its Bilbo entered.

Coral Welsh Grand National betting (2.50 Chepstow, December 27)

Coral: 5 Monbeg Genius, Galia Des Liteaux, Where It All Began, 6 Jubilee Express, 10 Iron Bridge, 12 Fontaine Collonges, Iwilldoit, 14 Stuzzikini, 16 The Newest One, No Hubs No Hoobs, Val Dancer, Your Own Story, 20 bar

Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase entries

Ballyburn Willie Mullins
Brookie Anthony Honeyball
Home Free Dan Skelton
Hypotenus Joe Tickle
Kalif Du Berlais Paul Nicholls
Rubaud Paul Nicholls
Sir Gino Nicky Henderson

Coral Welsh Grand National confirmations

Paint The Dream David Brace
Fontaine Collonges Venetia Williams
Iwilldoit Sam Thomas
Chambard Venetia Williams
Monbeg Genius Jonjo & AJ O'Neill
Galia Des Liteaux Dan Skelton
Stuzzikini Gordon Elliott
Iron Bridge Jonjo & AJ O'Neill
Where It All Began Gordon Elliott
Your Own Story Lucinda Russell
The Newest One Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jubilee Express Sam Thomas
Val Dancer Mel Rowley
Amateur John & Rhys Flint
The Two Amigos Nicky Martin
No Hubs No Hoobs Joe Tizzard
Atlanta Brave Kerry Lee
Evies Vladimir Gavin Cromwell
Imperial Alex Tom Lacey
Classic Concorde David Brace
Not Sure Kerry Lee
Gold Clermont Andy Irvine

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