Wednesday 2 December 2015 17:29, UK
Nina Carberry will partner Somersby for the first time in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
Trainer Mick Channon has again turned to the leading Irish amateur after the partnership were successful when Knock House won a race at Cheltenham in November.
Channon said: "We'll be going to Sandown for the Tingle Creek and Nina rides, which is great news."
Somersby, last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase runner-up, is an old hand around Sandown, having finished second in the last two renewals of the Tingle Creek.
The 11-year-old showed at Cheltenham last month the fires still burn brightly when he finished second in the Shloer Chase behind a revitalised Sprinter Sacre.
The West Ilsley handler said: "We've been very pleased with Somersby since Cheltenham where he ran a smashing race against a very good horse.
"The old boy is in good form and we obviously know how much he likes Sandown."
A formidable opponent stands in Somersby's way this weekend in the shape of Willie Mullins' Arkle winner Un De Sceaux.
Speaking in his Paddy Power blog, jockey Ruby Walsh said: "It's not ideal starting off in a Grade One chase but he has to start somewhere. He's in great form and schooled very well at Thurles after racing last week.
"Un De Sceaux has a lot of work done at home and is probably a little more forward than Vautour was a fortnight ago when he won at Ascot - but I'd still expect him to improve throughout the season.
"Everyone knows by now that he has one style of running and you know what you're going to get when he tanks off in front.
"But that could suit the likes of Paul Nicholls' Vibrato Valtat in particular, who looks the biggest danger to me.
"He's a fair bit to find with us on Arkle form last March, but he's open to the most improvement and won the Grade One novice chase here last season.
"Simonsig will be a different proposition now back over fences than when getting chinned by Bobs Worth over hurdles last time at Aintree.
"He was always a much better chaser than he was hurdler so two miles around Sandown will be right up his street. But there's always the risk of the bounce factor after such a long absence."
