STAR chaser Silviniaco Conti begins his bid for Gold Cup glory next year at Wetherby on Saturday.

The eight-year-old, the highest-rated chaser in training, bids to reclaim his crown in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at the West Yorkshire track as his handler Paul Nicholls looks to prepare him for another assault on racing's blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Silviniaco Conti won the Charlie Hall as an emerging star two years ago and has since gone on to claim the King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Betfred Bowl at Aintree.

Undeniably the start name in the flagship race of the year at Wetherby, a Grade 2 contest worth £100,000 and run over three miles and one furlong, the Ditcheat runner is the 6-4 favourite in a field of 11.

Nicholls has also entered Rocky Creek, the Hennessy Gold Cup runner-up who is looking to improve next year on his fifth place finish in the Grand National last April, while The Giant Bolster, Taquin Du Seuill and First Lieutenant make up a dazzling field.

Alan King is also hoping to saddle stable stalwart Medermit. The ten-year-old captured the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase in 2011 and also finished a close third in the following year's Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

He was not then seen on a racecourse for nearly two years because of injury and made his comeback when fourth to Captain Chris in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February. He rounded off last season with a fourth to Boston Bob in the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup.

King said: "The plan is to start Medermit in the bet365 Charlie Hall. His preparation has gone well and I have been really happy with him. He is in good order and ready to start.

"We were delighted with his run at Punchestown where the step up to three miles really seemed to suit him. He definitely wants that sort of trip now. Since then, we have always said the Charlie Hall would be the starting point and we will see how he gets on."

The Charlie Hall Chase is the highlight of a two-day meeting at Wetherby, which gets under way on Friday.

Jonjo Sanderson, chief executive and clerk of the course, said: "I am absolutely delighted with the entries we have received for both days of the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting and we now want to make sure that we deliver the racecourse in the best possible condition so that everyone can enjoy two spectacular days racing here at Wetherby this weekend."