Cheltenham

No favourite has won this since 2018 and, having won the first five renewals, Willie Mullins has fared no better than third in the last five. However, the negatives stop there with BAMBINO FEVER. She stole the show in bumpers last season and has looked a natural jumper of hurdles, even when she was turned over on her first attempt by Oldschool Outlaw. Her Naas conqueror clearly commands the utmost respect, especially after backing that up with a no-nonsense win at Grade 3 level, yet she probably caught Bambino Fever at a good time in December when the Mullins yard wasn't firing. It's by no means a two-horse race, and there are shades of last year's de Bromhead-trained winner with Echoing Silence, in that she's dropping back in distance after beating a notable opponent during the month of December in her last race. Carrigmoornaspruce is just an all-round good egg and she will give her backers a run for their money, while La Conquiere could be the best of the British from a yard that won this three years ago with a mare who brought a similar level of form.[Alistair Jones]