Miguel in line for Aintree

Le Roi Miguel could make his seasonal bow in Sunday’s Grade Two bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

The seven-year-old is one of two entries for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Andy Stewart as they also have My Will engaged in the race.

Le Roi Miguel won last year’s Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon before going on to finish fourth in the King George VI Chase and second to Moscow Flyer in the Melling Chase at the Liverpool track.

Connections are hoping the Point Of No Return gelding will be able to run but they have dual Grade Two winner My Will on standby should conditions be testing.

Stewart said: “Le Roi Miguel will run unless it is a bog. He is fit and in great form. If the ground was very soft then we would run My Will.”

The Old Roan Chase is the first of 63 races comprising this season’s Order of Merit competition, which boasts a £250,000 (€364,241) prize.

Le Roi Miguel finished third to Azertyuiop in the £50,000 (€72,851) top chaser category last season as well as finishing fifth overall in the series but Stewart hopes to improve on that this time.

“Le Roi Miguel is the type of horse I would like to target at this year’s Order of Merit as he finished a creditable fifth last season,” he added.

The ill-fated Farmer Jack won the race last year and his trainer Philip Hobbs has Supreme Prince entered for the two-and-a-half-mile chase this time around.

Martin Pipe has both Seebald and Windsor Boy while Nigel Twiston-Davies could be double-handed with Naunton Brook and Gazump.

King Harald, winner of the inaugural Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, could make his reappearance for Mark Bradstock.

Valley Henry, Island Faith, Europa, Supreme Developer, Quazar, Alam, Deep King, Ball O Malt and Impek complete the 17 entries.