SPRINTER SACRE: 2013 Champion who has raced just once since December that year, and jury out on the merit of his second to Dodging Bullets in the Clarence House Chase. Prior to that he’s been reportedly listless at home, but the signs are that he’s thrived both before and after that outing (even allowing for the usual hyperbole). A risky proposition given his problems, but the possibility of a full-scale revival isn’t ruled out, by any means.

SIRE DE GRUGY Benefited from absence of Sprinter Sacre to triumph last year, but a hip injury kept him sidelined in the first half of the season.

Unusually let down by his jumping at Newbury, he was typically spring heeled when given another outing at Chepstow, and it was a top-notch effort to concede lumps of weight to a useful rival. Once rumoured to be unsuited by Cheltenham, that notion was blown out of the water a year ago.

DODGING BULLETS: Has been picking up the pieces while the big guns have been licking their wounds, taking both the Tingle Creek and Clarence House Chase this season, but he’s run moderately at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, and level of form below what’s usually needed here.

Trainer adamant that he has finally found the key to a once-frustrating animal, but in the words of the late Mandy Rice-Davies: “He would say that wouldn’t he?”

CHAMPAGNE FEVER: Has made all to win here in 2012 (Champion Bumper) and 2013 (Supreme), and almost landed the hat-trick in last year’s Arkle. Failed to stay three miles when tried in the King George, and back to winning ways over shorter last time. Possibility that his ideal trip may lie between the two extremes, and connections toyed with a change of tactics last time. Clearly a class act, but too many imponderables to be a bet at current odds.

SUMMARY

Paul Nicholls will fancy his chances with both Dodging Bullets and Mr Mole who have had the best of it in terms of preparation, but neither appeals as genuinely top class, and it’s to be hoped that the last two winners arrive in form. Sprinter Sacre may well have recovered his appetite for the game at the right time, but Sire De Grugy proved he was back to his very best at Chepstow, and deserves to be favourite on that effort alone.