THE 2002 Champion Hurdler may be set for a comeback after a gap of almost three years on Saturday at Chepstow Racecourse. It's the final meeting before the big one of the year - the Coral Welsh National two days after Christmas - and Hors La Loi's appearance will intrigue racecourse visitors.

The horse hasn't raced since the spring of 2003 and, at the age of ten and now at a new training yard, he's set for his debut over fences.

Top West Country trainer Paul Nicholls has entered Hors La Loi in the two-mile Totepool Awaybet Beginners' Steeplechase.

The feature event of the day is the Totesport.com Handicap Steeplechase, worth £12,000 in prize money and run over a distance of just short of two and a half miles. It has attracted an initial entry of 19 horses.

Meanwhile, the entries for the £100,000 Coral Welsh National are being announced tomorrow at a media day at the training yard of Philip Hobbs. The Somerset trainer is preparing star horse One Knight for his first race since winning at Chepstow exactly 12 months ago. The target for the horse is the Welsh National.

This is the time of year when the racing at Chepstow is the best there is. Saturday's sport looks set to be typically exciting jump racing.

Anticipation is already building for Coral Welsh National day, with advance bookings very healthy indeed. Tickets for Tuesday, December 27, are on sale at both the racecourse and on the racecourse's website. Prices are £25 and £18 respectively for the Premier and Grandstand and Paddock Enclosures.

The first race time on Saturday is scheduled for 1.05pm. Tel 01291 622260.