Aintree Grand National winner Papillon was one of seven entries confirmed yesterday for the Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase on Saturday.

Papillon's trainer Ted Walsh also has Irish Grand National victor Commanche Court in the £65,000 contest, which is run over an extended two miles and three furlongs.

Venetia Williams is also double-handed with Bellator and The Outback Way in the race.

Champion Chase hopes Tiutchev and Cenkos are also in, and Celibate, a well-beaten fifth behind Function Dream at Newbury last Saturday, completes the field.

Nicky Henderson confirmed Tiutchev on course for the race. He said: "He's fine and goes to Ascot. We'd all love a dry week."

Tiutchev, winner of last season's Arkle Trophy but below form on his last two starts, is reported to be coming back to his best.

It was confirmed yesterday that Bobbyjo, winner of the 1999 Martell Grand National, will miss Aintree and faces a lengthy spell on the easy list after suffering an injury at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

The Tommy Carberry-trained 11-year-old sustained a fracture at the back of his near-fore knee when finishing eighth behind Northern Sound in the Grand National Trial Handicap.

The vets checked Bobbyjo over yesterday morning and Carberry said: "He's probably going to get a screw put in the bone at the back of his knee."

He added: "It'll mean he'll be off the course for the best part of a year. Hopefully he'll come back all right but you never know with this sort of injury."

Bobbyjo ended a 24-year wait for an Irish-trained Aintree National winner when beating Blue Charm by 10 lengths in 1999. Sunday's race was the 48th of Bobbyjo's career, during which he has won eight races and earned £357,265 in prizemoney.

Following recent heavy rain the chase course at Clonmel failed to pass an inspection yesterday morning.

So the chases scheduled for Thursday's meeting have been cancelled and two of the remaining races will be divided to form a seven-race card.