The opener of the Festival, the race that begins with the now famous roar from the thousands in attendance, and one that Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh used to dominate. With Ruby now retired, Mullins has Asterion Forlange (7/2), a relentless galloper who won the Chanelle Pharmer.
Interestingly, four of the last five horses to attempt the Chanelle Pharmer-Supreme double have been successful in doing so, the most recent being the Willie Mullins-trained horse, Klassical Dream.
Shishkin (5/2) heads the market without Envoi Allen (who likely won't go this route) and the Nicky Henderson charge looks a future Grade 1 type. The only concern being that his final prep run was at Huntingdon where horses are 0/128 when running there, Nicky has stated though "he's got to be one of the best chances".
The Seven Barrows stable also have Chantry House (7/1), another exciting prospect who has been so impressive over hurdles who should be there or thereabouts.
Gordon Elliot looks set to unleash Abacadbras (9/2), another future Grade 1 horse that has the notorious form of Envoi Allen in his notebook. Beaten only half length from his superstar stable mate he looks one of the main players in a hotly-contested race.
He's ran four times over hurdles, only succumbing to the mighty Envoi, he's a speedy operator who will be hoping there isn't too much give in the ground.
Fiddlerontheroof (6/1) has some of the strongest novice form in the race this year.
He's on a mark of 154 with the previous five winners of the race all winning off marks of 154 (Klassical Dream), 150 (Summerville Boy), 144 (Labaik), 155 (Altior) and (Douvan) 155, so ratings wise he's slap bang in there.
He bolted up in the Tolworth in January and loves softer ground all of which combine into making him a serious contender here.
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