Nine top-class performers line up for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day and this mid-season highlight can go to the northern-trained Simply Dashing.

Tim Easterby's runner has shown himself to be out of the top drawer this season with three good efforts particularly on his last two starts.

Following an encouraging reappearance at Wetherby in October the seven-year-old finished with a flourish to take second place a length behind Cyfor Malta in the Murphy's Gold Cup over two and a half miles two weeks later.

Simply Dashing was outpaced at the top of the hill that day and was fitted with a visor for the Tripleprint Gold Cup back at Cheltenham, but over an extra furlong earlier this month.

The tall gelding ran a cracker. He was not caught flat-footed this time and kept on all the way to the line but found the concession of 26 lb to Northern Starlight beyond him and he went down by three-quarters of a length with the rest seven lengths and more behind.

The step up to three miles on Saturday should prove ideal for Simply Dashing, who is napped to enjoy a well-deserved big-race triumph.

However, he will not have matters all his own way and faces his biggest task to date with last year's winner See More Business and the rapidly improving former hunter chaser Teeton Mill to contend with.

The latter was an impressive winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury last time off 10 st 5 lb and poses the main threat to the Malton challenger.

The progressive Executive King can complete his five-timer for the season in the Network Design International Feltham Novices' Chase.

Geoff Hubbard's six-year-old has won his four novice chases in good style this term and put up a decent performance in a Grade Two event at Lingfield last time.

Jumping well, he was clear from three out and won comfortably, easing down by 17 lengths from Lord Of The River, giving the impression there was better to come. Executive King gets his chance on St Stephen's Day and can prove too strong for the likes of King Of Sparta and Spendid.

The feature event at Wetherby, the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase with £20,000 added, can go to The Grey Monk, a defector from the `King George' at the overnight stage.

The Nicky Richards-trained 10-year-old faced a hopeless task at the weights last time at Haydock where he was set to concede 12 lb to top-rated chaser Suny Bay. Needless to say he failed but lost nothing in defeat and was eased when all chance had gone and finished a distance behind the dual Grand National runner-up.

And now that Richards has had the chance to put the finishing touches to The Grey Monk's preparation this sound jumper can hold too many guns for the progressive Random Harvest.

Symonds Inn, seventh to Benny The Dip in the Derby, has taken well to hurdling with two easy wins and can complete his hat-trick in the Christmas Novices' Hurdle at the main expense of Lord Lamb.

At Market Rasen Young Kenny is tipped to win the Clugston Lincolnshire National.