The reigning Champion Hurdler Make A Stand is on target to begin the defence of his crown at Kempton over Christmas. He heads 14 entries for the £40,000 Pertemps Christmas Hurdle on December 27th, a race that could also attract young pretender Shadow Leader.

Make A Stand has not raced since his five-race winning run halted at Aintree last season and his much-awaited comeback this term has been delayed by a minor cut to a foreleg.

Make A Stand, trainer Martin Pipe's only entry in the Christmas Hurdle, won at Kempton last season en route to Festival glory, lifting the Lanzarote Hurdle.

But he could face stiff opposition in the shape of Shadow Leader, impressive winner of both the Citroen Supreme Novices Hurdle and Scottish Champion Hurdle.

He too is poised to make his seasonal debut in a Kempton feature, that has not taken place since 1994 because of abandonment.

With that in mind Richard Rowe, trainer of Champion Hurdle fourth I'm Supposin, will also engage his challenger in the Knights Royal Hurdle at Ascot next weekend.

The event, restricted to four and five-year-olds, is also eligible to recent Newbury conqueror Sanmartino but would otherwise offer a less competitive option.

"On recent evidence you can't rely on the Christmas Hurdle taking place. The horse needs a run and a couple before Cheltenham," said Rowe.

"If Ascot is on I might well be tempted to run there and I wouldn't be bothered about taking on Sanmartino again. He's a great big colt who needs a couple of hard races to get there."

Bimsey, Relkeel and Shooting Light are entered to run in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. Triumph Hurdle fourth L'Opera is the third of David Nicholson's entrants.

Indefence, winner of the Citroen Supreme Novices Hurdle in 1996, is also on the comeback trail. He has not raced for 18 months but is close to running again.

Jenny Pitman's assistant David Stait said: "We're hoping to get him ready to run but the weather will play the biggest part.

"Opportunities will be limited for him because he is so highly rated. He's really going to have to make up into a conditions horse or things are going to be tough for him.

"He's a bigger more furnished horse than he was when he won at Cheltenham so you would hope there would be some improvement in him.

"If his legs stand up I'm sure there are races to be won with him, even if not the Champion Hurdle.