L'Homme Presse set to reappear in King George as Dan Skelton weighs up dual challenge with Grey Dawning and Protektorat

What looked like a sub-standard British challenge for next month's King George VI Chase is set to be boosted by the participation at Kempton of L'Homme Presse, who could still be joined in the line-up by Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning and his Dan Skelton stablemate Protektorat. 

L'Homme Presse, last seen finishing fourth in the Gold Cup for trainer Venetia Williams, is said to be on course to make his seasonal reappearance in the Boxing Day highlight, while Skelton will make a last-minute decision on the involvement of Grey Dawning, who was initially ruled out of the Grade 1 after finishing second on his first start of the campaign behind Royale Pagaille on Saturday.

Grey Dawning's recovery following his first start in open company has surprised Skelton and prompted him to consider the idea of running last season's Turners Novices' Chase winner next month after the King George was thrown wide open by the removal of ante-post favourite Gaelic Warrior and seven other Willie Mullins-trained stablemates on Tuesday.