Chris Kinane is praying heavy rain stays away to allow Strong Promise to take his chance in the £65,000 Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Only five horses were confirmed for the Grade One event over two miles three and a half furlongs and the trainer is keen for his stable star to run. "He's a definite runner at this stage as long as the ground is decent," said Kinane.

Strong Promise landed this race in 1997 when it was known as the Comet Chase, and was runner-up in the Tote Gold Cup a year later.

The Cheltenham showpiece remains the goal, although the wet weather has made it difficult for Kinane to get his stable star on the racecourse much this winter, and he will be heartened by the news that the going at Ascot is currently good.

Strong Promise missed all of last season with a leg problem and made little impact in two races in the first half of this season, but he showed some of his old sparkle when runner-up to The Land Agent at Wincanton last week.

There were 12 withdrawals at the five-day stage from the contest, which has attracted a total of just 25 runners in five renewals since it was made a level-weights event in 1995.

Venetia Williams took The Outback Way and the retired Teeton Mill - last year's winner - out of the 19 1/2-furlong race, relying solely on Nordance Prince, who landed the Victor Chandler Handicap Chase on his last visit to Ascot.

Paul Nicholls has decided against giving last Saturday's Game Spirit Chase winner Flagship Uberalles a quick reappearance, declaring Rockforce in his place. Also confirmed yesterday were Celibate (trained by Charlie Mann) and Wakeel (Mark Pitman).