NACARAT is in fine order as he prepares to meet the challenge of rising star chaser Time For Rupert in the £100,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

Tom George’s charge relished the three-mile one-furlong test last year when he powered four lengths clear of The Tother One to win that renewal. Nacarat subsequently landed a Grade One victory with a six-length success in the totesport Bowl at Aintree in April.

The Gloucestershire trainer revealed: “Nacarat has had a good preparation and, as long as that continues as it has done, I’m very happy with him.

“He has had a good summer and things have gone as well as I would have liked them to.

“He loved it round Wetherby last year. I think he likes most tracks and he will go on good and good to soft ground but he doesn’t want it soft/heavy.

“I’m not saying we will win it again but he will be going there as good as I can have him.

“It is very disappointing that Paddy Brennan is suspended and can’t ride him because he is also sponsored by Nacarat’s owner, Simon Clarke.

“We haven’t decided who will ride him yet but I have a runner in France with Simon Clarke tomorrow and we will probably have a chat about it then.”

Time For Rupert is also in rude health as he prepares for his seasonal return in the contest.

The top-class seven-year-old has recovered from the ailment that resulted in a below-par effort at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and trainer Paul Webber is hoping to unleash his charge in the prestigious race, which is the highlight of Wetherby’s two-day bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting.

Time For Rupert, runner-up to Big Buck’s in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle in 2010, enjoyed a fine first campaign over fences last season. After easily winning his first two starts, Webber’s charge was sent off the 7-4 favourite for the Grade One RSA Chase at Cheltenham on March 16 but was only fifth behind Bostons Angel.

Time For Rupert and Nacarat could lock horns at Wetherby with another exciting chaser, last season’s Grade Three Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup hero Diamond Harry.

Nick Williams’ charge is on the comeback trail, having sustained a ligament injury that kept him out of the Grade One Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.