Punchestowns is set to make his eagerly-awaited return to action at Newbury on December 29th.

Trainer Nicky Henderson decided against running his rising star in the William Hill King George at Kempton because of his lack of experience over fences.

Sent chasing last season, he won his first two starts impressively, including the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

However, despite being sent off the 2/1 favourite in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March, he could only finish fifth behind Weapon's Amnesty.

"I'm aiming Punchestowns at the Mandarin at Newbury on December 29th," Henderson said.

"We just decided that with three runs over fences the King George is not his race at the moment.

"There is the opportunity of a nice race at Newbury over three miles for intermediates and if he comes through that we'll start thinking of moving up whole scale. He is top class if everything goes right, which it didn't at Cheltenham for him or Long Run which is why Burton Port came out on top."