Wild Cane Ridge is on course for a crack at the valuable Betfair 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.

The nine-year-old was last seen being pulled up in the Scottish National in April, but trainer Len Lungo is pleased with him ahead of his reappearance.

"He's done all his work and we're happy with him. He's done all we've wanted and he's an intended runner on Saturday," the handler said.

"The Fixed Brush hurdle track is currently good to soft, soft in places, so there's no problem running on that.

"However, I am concerned about the reports on the other hurdles track, which is faster.

"Obviously if it gets any softer it gives us a better chance, but we'll just have to see what the weather does."

The son of Roselier was campaigned over both hurdles and fences last season, and Lungo expects more of the same this term.

He added: "We'll hopefully be looking at races like the Tommy Whittle at Haydock. He has run well there in a couple of big chases.

"You haven't got a wide choice when you're rated 140."

Owner Sir Robert Ogden is set to be double-handed with both Star De Mohaison and Ungaro taking their chances.

The former won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in 2006 and looked set to develop into a leading Gold Cup contender the following season before injury cut short his campaign.

Paul Nicholls' charge returned to action with a creditable third over hurdles back at Prestbury Park last January but subsequent niggles meant he did not run again.

"The plan is to run at Haydock and it's a good starting point for him," said Barry Simpson, Ogden's racing manager.

"We have run him over hurdles before but he has been off a long time and has only had the one run in the last two years.

"We need to get him back on track and just see how he performs over hurdles - this looks the right race to start him off.

"We don't have any long-term plans for him. He is in the Hennessy but that would come too soon if he ran on Saturday.

"He has those kind of entries as you never know what the weather will do in this country."

Ungaro is also a Grade One winner, landing the 2006 Feltham Chase at Kempton.

A renaissance at the beginning of the year saw him finish second in two competitive events at Doncaster, but his last win came in that top-level event.

The nine-year-old was a faller on his seasonal bow at Aintree and Simpson is hoping this race can act as a confidence-booster for Keith Reveley's runner.

He added: "He hasn't really lived up to the expectation of Grade One win but he's a lovely horse.

"We were disappointed with his comeback run but hopefully this race can give him a bit of confidence and get him jumping a bit better again."

Fair Along leads the weights on 11st 12lb following his Cheltenham victory last week, with According To Pete set to shoulder 10st 6lb.

The seven-year-old would be returning to the smaller obstacles following a brace of victories in novice chases at Hexham.

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson said: "We've entered According To Pete in the 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle and he's a possibility for the race if the ground rides soft on Saturday. The softer the going the better for him.

"He's in fine form and he's come out of his last race in good shape. He's the type of horse who doesn't mind switching between fences and hurdles and this looks like a good race for him.

"He's a good little horse and he showed his ability over hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree last season.

"He also finished third behind a couple of good horses at Haydock Park last December and he's a decent, versatile horse.

"He goes there in good heart and should run his race providing the ground is to his liking."

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