Direct Route will face a maximum of six rivals if he is to regain his Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Chase crown at Sandown on Saturday.
Howard Johnson`s charge, winner of the Grade One race in 1998 and second to Flagship Uberalles last season, was confirmed for the race today.
His main rival could prove to be the Nicky Henderson-trained Tiutchev, winner of the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March, who is set to have his first run of the season here.
Cenkos, who finished second in the Arkle, and Fadalko, who fell in that Festival contest, are also in the field, as is Tiutchev`s stablemate Get Real.
Venetia Williams could also be double-handed with First National Bank Chase runner-up Bellator and The Outback Way.
Most notable defectors today were last year`s winner Flagship Uberalles, who is set to run in Ireland later in December, and Edredon Bleu, who is being trained with the Pertemps King George VI Chase in mind.
Chief`s Song and Mulkev Prince have also been pulled out of the two-mile race.
