Jonjo O'Neill achieved well-deserved fame for some memorable performances in the saddle, never more so perhaps than when driving home Dawn Run to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the brave mare who had already previously won the Champion Hurdle. O'Neill was champion jockey on two occasions and has now trained 15 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, putting him 14th in the all-time list. He has saddled just two runners in this event to date, with both Black Jack Ketchum and Wichita Lineman landing the spoils. Tony McCoy rode both. 

Just one horse of the 37 horses to have been sent off at 28-1 or more has made the frame, and in general this has so far been a race in which to concentrate upon shorter-priced runners.

Alan King has saddled a winner and a third -placed horse in this race's four renewals and looks to have a strong contender this year in Bensalem. His prospects will become clearer if Diamond Harry runs a decent race in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle earlier in the week, as Bensalem has been about the only horse to make that rival break out of second gear so far this season, pushing him all the way at this track last time out. King expects him to benefit from the move up to three miles and he merits interest at 4/1 with Sky Bet.