ALAN Hill's runners always merit extra consideration at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, and he is once again set to be well represented at the Kimblewick Hunt meeting on Sunday.

The Aston Rowant trainer is responsible for 17 of the 61 entries at his local track, but before he finalises running plans, he admits he faces a battle to provide suitable ground.

A dry spell saw the terrain on Tuesday described as Good to Firm, Firm in places. Watering has taken place since last Wednesday and will continue, with the aim of maintaining - and hopefully improving - the going.

Hill said: "It is just proving quite hard to get it to where I want to. I am hoping I get it to Good, maybe Good to Firm in places, but it won't be better than that unless the good Lord intervenes."

With the uncertainty over the going, he has three entries - Back Bar, Knight Bachelor and Sparkleandshine - in the Chiltern Fox Ladies Open to cover all eventualities.

"As I sit here at the moment it is Knight Bachelor's ground," he said. "If it was on the easier side of good it would be Back Bar and if it was firm then Sparkleandshine."

Knight Bachelor won his penultimate start here from Monday's Mollington scorer, Raven's Tower, before finishing fifth at Woodford, and Hill believes a return to Kingston Blount will suit the 12-year-old.

He said: "He has never run so well on galloping tracks. He gets a bit bull-headed. Kingston brings the better side out of Knight Bachelor, and I think that he will run well if he goes back there."

Back Bar, winner of this race in 2019, finished second to Deans Road here on this corresponding weekend last year when the fixture took place under the Kingston Blount Racing Club banner.

Deans Road hasn't been in the same form this term, though, with his regular rider Gina Andrews, the wife of trainer Tom Ellis, reporting that the 13-year-old has struggled with sarcoids (equine skin tumour).

She said: "He is also entered at Chaddesley Corbett (on Saturday), and we will go wherever looks the easiest option."

Phil Rowley's Champagne Lilly won the intermediate at this meeting in 2018 and struck at Eyton-on-Severn last time, while Georgie Nicholls's Lockinge runner-up, Rhythm Is A Dancer, also comes into the reckoning.

Gabrial The Great could bid to repeat his win of three years ago in the Emmett & Stone Mens Open over 2m 5f for owner-trainer-rider Thomas Murray.

The 13-year-old, who has form figures of 1213 here, unseated at the first at Bitterley last time, but had previously finished third to Azzuri at Maisemore Park.

Hill was uncertain whether either Sir Mangan or Tidal Flow would line up, but Joanna Andrews's Longhouse Sale has strong claims on his Kimble win and Garthorpe second.

Phil York's Godstone winner, Isaac Wonder, Ed Turner's Higham scorer, Aigle de La See, and John Ayton's Parham runner-up, Doldido, all hold chances among the seven-strong entry.

Hill believes his best chance is Voie Dans Voie in the Bonner & Babington Intermediate, with the nine-year-old dropping into calmer waters after being pulled up at Cheltenham last time.

He said: "We put blinkers on him and they lit him up too much, especially in that class. There will be a minor adjustment of headgear for him. I think we will see a lot better horse."

Ellis has entered Master Templar, with Andrews reporting that the seven-year-old - a winner here in February - wouldn't want it too firm.

"He is a bit of a monkey," she said. "He was favourite last time and pulled up at Woodford. For whatever reason he was not on a going day."

Champion Chase could renew rivalry with Master Templar, having gained a short-head verdict when the pair met at Horseheath in January. Trainer Francesca Poste's husband, Charlie, said: "He has done very well this season and could run. He wants the weakest opposition."

Rob Cundy's Parham winner, Josh The Plod, and James Henderson's Lockinge runner-up, Frisson Collonges, are others to consider.    

Poste could assist James King in his battle to retain his men's championship by saddling Kaproyle in the French Horn South Midlands Area Conditions Race (Level 2), which opens the seven-race card at 2pm.

King ended the Bank Holiday weekend one behind Will Biddick, but would have high hopes of adding to his tally on the seven-year-old course winner, who has won six of his seven starts.

Poste's husband, Charlie, said: "He has been a star for us. He likes the course, and the owners are keen to support James in his bid to win the title."

Master Templar also holds an entry here along with stablemate Bawnmore, another Andrews said would not want the ground too quick. "He won at Woodford last week," she added. "He is ultra-consistent and always runs his race."

Hill is set to rely on Craigmor from his three entries. The 10-year-old was pipped by Cheltenham Mati at Kimble last time, and the trainer observed: "The winner got beat at the weekend, so the form has not been stamped."

Bawnmore has the option of tackling the Bull & Butcher Conditions Race (Level 2) For Novice Riders, with Ellie Callwood on board. 

James Ridley's Paxford winner, Grove Cottage, could be in opposition with Murray Dodd - the joint leader in the Highflyer Bloodstock Novice Men's Championship - booked to ride.

Hill is set to be represented by Mahlers Star, saying. "I was going to run him last weekend, but he picked up a bang while schooling. He's 100 per cent now."

Aigle de La See is also entered here along with Tim Underwood's prolific veteran, Tempelpirate.

Hill is keen on Craven Bay, his likely runner from his three entries in the College & County Maiden over 2m 5f.

The six-year-old hasn't been seen out since finishing a close fourth to Dan's Cross at Garthorpe last June. The trainer explained: "He was ready to run around Christmas and the New Year, but picked up an injury and had a month's box rest. As long as it's good ground he will run. He is in very good form. I could see him putting in a good run."

Ellis will be looking for Haveyougotmymoney to step up from his promising debut fourth at Mollington in a race which saw the winner, Byorderofthecourt, subsequently sold for £120,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale.

Andrews said: "He ran very well, but was very green and will come on for the run."

Hill's hopes of running Hilnamix in the Richardsons Chartered Accountants Restricted hinge on his Mollington runner-up encountering a suitable surface.

His handler said: "I would like to run him on a bit of a tighter course, but my main concern is going to be if the ground is good enough."

Dinah Washington, a runaway winner for Phil York at Godstone, David Phelan's Parham victor, McMurroughs Court, and Underwood's Godstone runner-up, Bolamore Bridge, are other likely candidates.

There will be a parade of hounds between the first and second races. Admission is £15 per person (free for under 17s). The course is about two miles from Junction 6 of the M40 in the direction of Chinnor. For SatNav, use postcode OX39 4SG. It's not recommended to leave the motorway at Junction 5, as the route down Kingston Hill is narrow and steep.