DANNY Ford acknowledges it will be “incredibly tough” for Tom Brennan to be crowned British champion this year, but hopes the Poole Pirates star can “ruffle a few feathers” at the event.

In-form Brennan is set to be part of a 16-man field at the prestigious event in Manchester this evening (7.30pm).

Richard Lawson was also due to compete, but has now withdrawn, having suffered an ankle injury whilst guesting for King's Lynn Stars on Thursday.

Brennan has finished as runner-up in the past, in 2022, but never claimed top spot.

And this year looks tougher than ever to take the title, given former winners and Grand Prix stars Tai Woffinden, Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley are all competing at Belle Vue.

But there is the added incentive of knowing World Championship qualifying places are also on offer, while the wild card spot for this year’s British Grand Prix will go to the highest-placed non-GP rider.

Asked how he rates the chances of Brennan this year, Pirates promoter Ford told the Daily Echo: “It’s going to be incredibly tough.

“You’ve got the best three British riders in there, three GP riders, so anyone else who can challenge for the podium is doing incredibly well with Tai, Lambert and Bewley in there.

“They’re going to be tough to beat.

“But Tom is in great form and Belle Vue is his former track.

“Obviously we’ll be hoping he can ruffle a few feathers and maybe there’ll be an upset.

“But I think it’s quite clear who the favourites are going into that meeting.”

Discussing this year’s field, Brennan himself said: “I think having those three names in there really ups the ante. It ups the level but it would be cool to kind of get one over them too.

“It will be close racing, should be hard racing and hopefully the best man will win it in the end.

“For me, I guess it adds a little bit of incentive because after the meeting you can look back and say you’ve got the better of some big names - but ultimately, we have to just go out there and ride as hard as we can against everyone.”

There are set to be some changes to the original line-up, with some former Pirates drafted in.

Last year's runner-up and ex-Poole skipper Steve Worrall was set to withdraw due to illness, but has declared himself fit to feature.

However, both Danny King and Ben Barker are ruled out injured, alongside Lawson.

First reserve Simon Lambert comes in for King, while Drew Kemp and Anders Rowe will also take their places in the field.

Draw: 1 Kemp, 2 R Lambert, 3 Harris, 4 S Lambert, 5 Cook, 6 Mountain, 7 Ellis, 8 Woffinden, 9 Kerr, 10 Worrall, 11 Bewley, 12 Rowe, 13 Schlein, 14 Brennan, 15 Wright, 16 Howarth.

Reserves: 17 Hodder, 18 Marson.

Poole Pirates are not due back in action until a trip to Oxford Cheetahs on Wednesday, June 19.

The scheduled trip to Edinburgh Monarchs on June 21 has been pushed back to Friday, August 23 (7pm).