SIR Gino remains a firm favourite for the My Pension Expert Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, but Willie Mullins is loading up some strong ammunition to tackle Nicky Henderson’s star, with Ile Atlantique (13/8) joining stablemate Majborough in the Grade 1 picture thanks to a five-length win in the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase.

Tony Bloom’s recent Navan winner has long had the physical stamp of a chaser and delivered a bold display on his favoured testing ground here.