Solwhit has the look of a Champion
On the back of a cracking season, he was set to be a confident choice, but obvious doubts are now raised by the fact that he scoped badly eight days ago.
The six-year-old's participation was in doubt all of last week, until he scoped clean on Saturday last and given the green light by trainer, Charles Byrnes.
He was impressive in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January, shooting away from the final flight to beat Donnas Palm by four and a half lengths.
We know Solwhit stays much further than two miles and the final punishing hill is made for him.
Go Native will surely travel like a dream through the contest, but just how much he will find, if coming off the bridle, remains to be seen.
Khyber Kim and Medermit have a life, but for me the principal danger is last year's winner, Punjabi.
Nicky Henderson seems to have timed it just right with this tough and resolute sort, who appeared in rude good health when cruising to victory at Kempton.
Following much soul-searching, Dunguib gets the vote in the Spinal Research Supreme
Novices' Hurdle.
He has what can only be described as a savage engine, but what tempers one's enthusiasm to have a major wager is the worry about his jumping.
It was sloppy when he toyed with Fionnegas at Leopardstown, but travelling at speed now might be a help, rather than a hindrance, and if in contention turning in then there surely can only be one result!
Eddie Harty's Captain Cee Bee gets the vote in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy.
He roared up the hill here two years ago to take the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and his easy win at Naas last month was the ideal preparation.
Quevega, on what is a belated seasonal debut, is the nap choice in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.
She won this a year ago, by a whopping 14 lengths, and is the medium of glowing reports regarding her homework.
