Marlborough faces seven rivals including Kingscliff in Cheltenham's Tripleprint Chase today as he bids to get back on the winning trail.

The 11-year-old gained his last victory over 12 months ago in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, and finished second to Ballybough Rasher in the same race last month.

''The horse is getting on a little bit, but he's in good form and Nicky (Henderson) thinks he has come on from his run at Wetherby,'' said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.

''I am happy to say he goes on any ground, so conditions will not be a concern. However, he is probably better on faster ground than on softer. They say it is going to be good ground, and if it is, nobody will have any excuses.

''He had a couple of entries this weekend but we decided to go for this race as he is a course-and-distance winner and seems to act well round the course.''

The gelding ran Best Mate to a length and a half in last year's Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton, but a decision on whether he lines up again on Boxing Day has yet to be taken.

''He is in the King George but, realistically, he would have to perform extremely well tomorrow to warrant running,'' Simpson said yesterday. ''I am not saying it is out of the equation.''

Marlborough faces a tough rival in the form of the unexposed Kingscliff, who will be trying to continue his climb to the top of the tree.

Robert Alner's charge won the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham last season and the unbeaten six-year-old brushed aside a useful field in a three-mile Ascot chase on his first start this year, despite running the majority of the race with a broken rein.

Haut Cercy, a late withdrawal from the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, will be having his first start of this season for trainer Henry Daly in the event, over three miles one and a half furlongs.

The eight-year-old was unlucky not to score in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at last term's Festival after clouting the fourth-last fence.

Martin Pipe's Cyfor Malta will carry top weight following his recent fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Prestbury Park, and will be the mount of Tony McCoy. The field is completed by Exit To Wave, Master Tern, Take The Stand and Lord Noelie