Today’s two-mile Champion Chase is a true race of the ages with the last three winners taken on by last year’s brilliant Arkle winner Un de Sceaux.

The Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux has never been beaten when he has stood up and while dominating his races from the front, he can pull out more when required. The only slight worry is the ground which was also a concern last year although he coped well with it. Both in this race last year and at Ascot he has shown intelligence to match his brilliance in putting short ones when he needed in fine rounds of jumping.

This race is the equivalent of the 100 metres in athletics and two years ago Sprinter Sacre was the equine Usain Bolt, winning here and following up at Aintree and Punchestown.

The following year he was diagnosed with a fibrillating heartbeat and was a shadow of himself last season. This year he has looked back to something like the horse of old, winning with his old swagger over this course in November before battling well to see off Sire De Grugy at Kempton. Recent reports have been very positive. The stable’s win with Altior yesterday is also a bonus.

Dodging Bullets may have won a substandard running last year and must improve massively on his debut run at Newbury.

Sire De Grugy has been beaten by the big two this year and doesn’t look as good as when winning two years ago. Special Tiara has place prospect on this good ground as does the now Colm Murphy-trained Sizing Granite on his win in a Grade 1 at Aintree last year. The ground will also suit God’s Own but he was no match for Un de Sceaux last year. It’s hard to see Somersby being placed again but he should run well on his eighth appearance.

It’s a fascinating race and the prospect of Un De Sceaux sailing down the hill with Sprinter Sacre on his tail is worth waiting for.

SELECTION: Un De Sceaux

EACH-WAY: Sizing Granite