For starters there are three probable notable non-runners following news that Tazbar, Bensalem and Pandoroma look like missing the race.

The Feltham Chase runner-up Tazbar has definitely been ruled out of the rest of the season through injury and he was a lively outsider having won his next two starts by 14 lengths on each occasion. Alan King all but confirmed on Monday that Bensalem will indeed run in the William Hill Trophy and it looks long odds-on that Pandorama will also miss the race following a setback.

Ogee won midweek and could come here but I just have last season’s Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle winner as on the small side for a big chasing track like Cheltenham but The Nightingale is a different matter and he looked as smooth as silk when giving Paul Nicholls his fifth Pendil Chase winner on the spin. He is classy for sure but whether he is man enough for a race like the RSA Chase I don’t know as he finished distressed twice last season including when sixth in last season’s ‘Neptune’. Whether he runs is dodgy though as Nicholls has suggested he may be one to wait for Aintree.

Mikael D’Haguenet didn’t impress everyone with his public schooling session on Sunday and it is fair to say he was less than fluent over his fences looking most novicey and he had a good blow afterwards Earlier in the day his stablemate Citizen Vic followed up his Grade 1 win with another victory but it would appear he is likely to miss the Festival and maybe Mullins’ number one will be Uimhiracethair who impressed when schooling alongside Cooldine. I think he is looking more and more like Ruby Walsh’s RSA Chase mount.