Kauto can star in Champion
If there is a flying machine in the race then Paul Nicholls' six-year-old is very much the most likely possibility. Lightly raced, he carries maximum stable confidence and comes here fresh, having been rested since early December.
Kauto Star won the Tingle Creek at Sandown that day, putting up a tremendous performance in dreadful conditions. He had the look of a winner from a long way out and, considering he was racing on an unsuitable surface, did really well to beat the two years older and vastly more experienced Ashley Brook by a length and a half.
Much interest will, of course, centre on Moscow Flyer, attempting to become only the second after Skymas to win this race as a 12-year-old. If he does the business he will also join Badsworth Boy as the only horse to ever win three Champion Chases.
It is, however, hard to be enthusiastic about his prospects, because he hasn't been running anywhere near his best and a recent work-out at Leopardstown was hardly encouraging.
Central House and Fota Island both come here at the top of their respective games, but it has to be Kauto Star.
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh are fancied to team up for a double with Equus Maximus and Our Ben.
Equus Maximus, very impressive when beating Lord Lumey on his debut at Leopardstown, gets the nap in the Weatherbys' Champion Bumper.
The fact that Tex Morgan, beaten 23 lengths into third place, scored at Navan on Saturday was a big boost.
Our Ben definitely has the ability to take the Royal and SunAlliance Chase and in Walsh has the perfect partner to persuade him to put his best foot forward.
He hit a flat spot at Leopardstown in the Moriarty Chase, before powering home to finish third behind The Railway Man and Father Matt.
This better ground and tackling three miles plus are likely factors to bring out the best in the durable seven-year-old.
Denman is going to go off at cramped odds in the Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, but I prefer the chance of Nicanor each-way. He beat Travino in a canter at Leopardstown and there is a strong suspicion we haven't seen anything like the best of him yet!
