O'Neill ready to unwrap Gift

Stayers’ Hurdle hero Iris’s Gift could make his eagerly-awaited debut over fences at Windsor on Saturday.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained grey has been on the sidelines since finishing second to stable companion Rhinestone Cowboy at Punchestown in April, after sustaining two hairline fractures of the cannonbone.

But his name featured today among the 19 entries for the Clewer Point Novices’ Chase over two and half miles.

The seven-year-old, who beat Baracouda at Cheltenham last March, is one of three possibles for the Jackdaws Castle trainer, together with other former smart hurdlers Hasty Prince and Quazar.

O’Neill said last week that the Robert Lester owned-gelding was in good form and that he had schooled over fences and jumped “grand”.

However, he would face anything but an easy introduction judged on some of the opposition at the five-day stage.

One-time Arkle Trophy favourite My Will is an interesting contender for Paul Nicholls, as is French recruit Kauto Star, while Hughie Morrison has entered Henry VIII Chase runner-up The Last Cast and former Champion Hurdle runner-up Marble Arch.