Rawnaq and Flaxen Flare among Ladbroke 57

Dell' Arca, Sametegal, Rawnaq and Flaxen Flare, the first four home in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, are among 57 entries for The Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday, December 21.

The sponsor has installed the first two home as the 12/1 co-favourites of six for the two-mile £150,000 Grade Three handicap hurdle, alongside Nicky Henderson's Blue Fashion and Rolling Star, and potential Irish raiders City Slicker and Quick Jack.

Henderson is the most successful trainer in the contest, having captured the prestigious and valuable prize with Sentry Duty (2008), Jack The Giant (2007), and Chauvinist (2002).

His eight-strong entry also includes the classy River Maigue, Snake Eyes and Chatterbox, who finished second to Ifbutandwhynot on his seasonal return in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury last week.

The progressive Dell' Arca made the perfect British debut when landing the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle. His trainer David Pipe is also responsible for Shotavodka, Ronaldo des Mottes, Swing Bowler, Waterunder and Dan Breen.

Auteuil Grade One scorer Ptit Zig is among six entries for seven-time champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls, while Alan King, successful with Raya Star in 2011, has entered Grumeti and impressive Newbury victor Vendor.

Gordon Elliott was victorious last year with Cause Of Causes and could bid for a repeat victory with this year's Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle hero Flaxen Flare, who was last seen coming fourth in the Greatwood Hurdle and is one of seven Irish-trained entries.

Rawnaq fared best of the Irish raiders at Prestbury Park and trainer Michael Smith is hoping his charge can reproduce that effort at Ascot. The six-year-old completed a hat-trick of wins during the summer months, before finishing a respectable seventh on heavy ground in the Galway Hurdle.

Smith, who has just eight horses in training, reported: "All being well, Rawnaq will run in The Ladbroke.

"He has come out Cheltenham well and is in good form. I was delighted with his performance there but we were expecting a big run as he was in such good form.

"We expected the same in the Galway Hurdle, but he came back sick and ran a great race for a horse that wasn't well. It was bottomless as well and he is much better on better ground.

"During the summer, he won a Flat race and two hurdle races really impressively and then ran two good races on the Flat before Cheltenham.

"I've had my licence for nearly a year now and it's great to be associated with a horse like him.

"He is still improving and we think he will be even better over a longer trip. We will wait and see how he gets on in Ascot, but we have always thought further the better for him because he does stay two miles on the Flat."

Other notable entries include Elite Hurdle victor Melodic Rendezvous and Pine Creek who landed a Listed handicap hurdle decisively over the course and distance last month.