Kempton

Easy winner of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on his reappearance last season and switched to fences to slam Ballyburn in Grade 2 novice here last Christmas. A severe infection ruled him out of the remainder of last season. Reverts to hurdles on return and will be very hard to beat.

Scaled new heights when landing last season's Champion Hurdle, albeit held until State Man fell at the last. Her reappearance win in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle was also aided by a couple of high-profile fallers and the feeling is Sir Gino will have too much for her if he's close to his best.

Useful novice last year and started this season with a bang when winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Chepstow in October, seeing off subsequent Greatwood winner Alexei by 2¼ lengths. Progressed again when 2½ lengths second to Wodhooh in Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (19f, good to soft) since.

Smart hurdler/chaser who has won the last 3 runnings of the C&D listed race which takes place in October. Followed that with a second successive win in the Elite at Wincanton but he's surely vulnerable to an on-song Sir Gino.

Progressive in bumpers and similar story sent hurdling in 2024/25, including a C&D Grade 2 novice success. Switched to fences this season, finishing well-held fourth to Lulamba on completed start. Plenty to find back hurdling in first-time cheekpieces.

Went on a winning spree over hurdles and on the Flat in 2025, including a Cheltenham conditions event on his return to jumping in October. His winning run came to a halt in last month's Gerry Feilden at Newbury, though.