The unfortunate defection of superstar Constitution Hill, due to injury, has left the door open for STATE MAN to stamp his authority on this prestigious prize and he rates as a banker. The eight-time Grade 1 winner, who ran a respectable second to Constitution Hill in last season’s renewal, should have far too much class to see off his inferior rivals – having at least 11lb in hand over his nearest pursuer on official ratings. With a Cheltenham Festival success already under the seven-year-old’s belt, the return to Prestbury Park won’t faze him and he’ll take all the beating, regardless of the ground description, with form on all types of surfaces.

Willie Mullins has won this Grade 1 event for mares four times in the previous 10 seasons and bids the enhance that record with the wonder LOSSIEMOUTH. The daughter of Great Pretender has already shown exceptional Grade 1 form, including a scintillating Triumph Hurdle success at last year’s Cheltenham festival. She returned from a lengthy absence with an easy victory in a Grade 2 event on trials day at Cheltenham in January. With excellent course form (unbeaten in two starts), she also has at least 4lb in hand on official ratings versus her nearest rival, and rates a banker to give owner Mrs Susannah Ricci yet another Cheltenham festival winner.

Undefeated in six chase starts, EL FABIOLO, is expected to prove extremely hard to beat in the G1 Champion Chase and is a banker.

A five-and-a-half-length winner ahead of the reopposing Jonbon in last season’s G1 Arkle Chase, he can confirm that form following two easy victories this term. His jumping wasn’t always fluent when scoring in the G1 Dublin Chase last month but he powered clear in an impressive manner. If jumping with enough accuracy at Cheltenham, it will take a mighty performance to overhaul him, especially considering he is officially rated at least 5lb clear of his rivals.

Those who will attempt to challenge El Fabiolo have more question marks to answer coming into the race, including the aforementioned Jonbon, whose jumping let him down last time.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD has been well supported in the market in recent weeks, indicating the confidence behind the Gordon Elliott-trained Kapgarde mare.

The five-year-old created a favourable impression when scooting clear by 10 lengths on hurdle debut at Thurles last October. She followed up with an authoritative victory in the Grade 3 Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal, despite running green and clearly having scope for progress with more experience.

Her subsequent 12 length Listed success at Navan was by far her most convincing win to date, showing pace and jumping fluently, as well and appreciating the rise in trip to 2m5f. The drop back to 2m1f for Cheltenham shouldn’t inconvenience her, especially with the race run on the new course, which should draw her stamina in to play. Her trainer has emphasised how smart he thinks she is, stating: “she is a proper mare. She’s very, very good and I don’t say that about too many.”

SIR GINO looks like one of the favourites to take on at the Cheltenham Festival. The son of It’s Gino has impressed in both facile juvenile hurdle wins in Britain, including a 10-length in the G2 Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle over course-and-distance in January. Despite being unbeaten in all three career runs, the form of the last win is yet to be tested and he’s yet to encounter an Irish-trained horse.

Irish-trained runners have won the previous four renewals and look to have multiple challengers this season, including the unexposed Willie Mullins-trained pair of Kargese and Marlborough. They should put it up to the short-priced favourite, after finishing first and third in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown and are improvers. There has also been a slight question mark over the form of the Nicky Henderson yard over the past few weeks, which would temper the enthusiasm of backing one of his Cheltenham Festival runners at odds-on.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is hard to oppose in the G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup, aiming to deliver back-to-back wins in the showpiece of the festival. The exuberant Timos gelding would be undefeated at Cheltenham, except for a last-fence fall when clear of his rivals in the 2022 G1 Novices’ Chase over 2m4f. A chase record of eight wins from 11 attempts (seven G1 wins) clearly indicates his impressive career record and he is at least 7lb clear of his nearest rival on official ratings. It will take a mighty performance from another runner to upset the Willie Mullins-trained superstar.

Despite being all the rage in the ante-post market, DINOBLUE is one who can be opposed at the prices. The Doctor Dino mare has an envious chase record of five wins from nine starts, including in Grade 1 company last December. Her most impressive chase effort may have been last-time-out, despite finishing second – she ran behind last year’s G1 Arkle Chase winner, El Fabiolo. That excellent performance would be good enough to land this prize but there must be a huge question mark about the distance of this race.

Yet to run over this extended 2m4f trip, she has largely been kept to two miles. Two mares who have winning form over this distance – Allegorie De Vassy (second in this last season) and Limerick Lace – have strong form in this division and rate massive rivals against Dinoblue, who may be found out up the Cheltenham Hill when it matters the most.