Hampshire horse racing trainer Emma Lavelle believes Le Bec is fit enough to do himself justice as one of last season’s most exciting novice chasers makes his seasonal reappearance in the United House Gold Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

The six-year-old got his fencing career off to a flying start with victories at Uttoxeter and Cheltenham last autumn and was far from disgraced when second behind Sam Winner back at Prestbury Park in December.

Subsequently put away for the Festival, Le Bec was in the process of running a massive race in the RSA Chase when tipping up four fences from home.

Lavelle is buoyed by her excellent early-season form, but her enthusiasm is tempered following the fatal fall of another stable star, Timesremembered, at Aintree last weekend.

“I’m a little bit nervous as we had some good results last Saturday but we also a real tragedy for the yard, so I’m just hoping everything will go well,” said the Andover-based trainer.

“Touch-wood, he has schooled very well and he seems in really good order.

“It’s his first step up against the big boys, but we think he’s a lovely horse and although I’m not saying he won’t improve for the run, he’s fit and well and ready to go.

“It’s his first time going right-handed, but I don’t see that being a problem and it look as though he’ll get his ground - he’s not a horse who would want it very soft.

“The horses seem to be running well, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Le Bec features in a 15-runner field for the £100,000 Grade Three, with the weights headed by Venetia Williams’ one-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Katenko.

The eight-year-old emerged a genuine contender for the staying crown after a brilliant Cheltenham success in January 2013, but he had to undergo an emergency colic operation in the days leading up to the blue riband.

Though he returned to action last season, results were not as promising.

Katenko was last to finish in the Gold Cup back in the spring, but Williams, who won the race last year with Houblon Des Obeaux, is pleased with her charge ahead of his comeback.

She said: “The ground is probably a bit on the dry side for him, so any rain would be appreciated, but he’s in good order.

“He’s got plenty of weight to give away, but he’s a big, strong horse.

“He has run well at Ascot before, but in very different conditions.

“We’ll just play it by ear (regarding future plans).”

The only Irish-trained runner in the field is Arthur Moore’s Pass The Hat, who was runner-up in the Kerry National at Listowel on his penultimate start before a recent fall at Limerick.

“He’s in good form and was fine after Limerick. It was a very soft fall,” said Moore.

“It’s a good prize and he’ll like the ground, so we thought it was worth a shot.

“He ran very well in the Kerry National and if he can be placed again on Saturday we’ll be very pleased.”

Restless Harry won over course and distance in February and makes his first appearance since finishing a fine fourth in Sandown’s bet365 Gold Cup at the end of April.

Trainer Robin Dickin said: “We thought about entering him at Wetherby as well, but the ground looks like it’s going to be pretty quick up there, so we thought we’d stick to Ascot where the ground will hopefully be more suitable.

“He has also ran probably the biggest race of his career at Ascot when he won there last season.

“He has risen hugely in the handicap, but there’s nothing we can do about that.”

Vino Griego is a regular in high-class handicap chases, but trainer Gary Moore warned his nine-year-old is not fully tuned up for his first start in almost seven months.

The West Sussex handler said: “He always comes on for his first run and is never at his best first time out, but he never ceases to amaze us, this horse, so hopefully he amazes us on Saturday.

“He has won at Ascot before, over hurdles and over fences, and we’re looking forward to getting him going.

“He wouldn’t be the best handicapped horse in the world at the moment, though.”

Similar comments apply to the JP McManus-trained Cantlow, trained by Paul Webber.

Webber said: “He’s very well indeed, but I would expect he’ll come on for the run.

“He needed the run first time out at Wetherby last year and he’s just that type of horse - it doesn’t matter how much work you do with him, he always takes a run to put him right, “He might be a little bit further forward last year, even though he’s exactly the same weight.”

Other contenders for the lucrative prize include Philip Hobbs’ recent Cheltenham winner Roalco De Farges, David Pipe’s Gevrey Chambertin, the Dan Skelton-trained What A Warrior and Black Thunder from champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ stable.