Willie Mullins has wrapped his hands around nearly every major jumps prize throughout a glittering training career and Chacun Pour Soi bids to end his long wait for Champion Chase success in today's feature on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
ullins has had plenty of heartbreak in the two-mile showpiece with Douvan (2/9 favourite) failing to fire in 2017 while Un De Sceaux (4/6) was turned over a year earlier, but Chacun Pour Soi has looked a class apart in his seven starts for the Closutton boss.
After an 11th hour withdrawal from this contest 12 months ago, can the brilliant nine-year-old set the record straight today and provide his trainer with one of the rare prizes that has eluded him?
1.20 Grade One Ballymore Novices' Hurdle 2m5f
The three-way duel of the Festival as Bob Olinger, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame lock horns in a mouth-watering contest.
Paul Nicholls has already made favourable comparisons between Bravemansgame and Denman, but even the 2008 Gold Cup winner was turned over in this race before dominating over fences and that may be where Bravemansgame will also flourish.
Bob Olinger was beaten first time out over hurdles when chasing home Champion Bumper winner Ferny Hollow before subsequently landing the Grade One Lawlor's Of Naas in good style for Henry de Bromhead and he is a huge danger to Gaillard Du Mesnil.
Mullins can work the oracle in the opener again, though, as Gaillard Du Mesnil put a star-studded field to the sword last month in a Leopardstown Grade One and that sets the bar for others to reach.
Verdict: Gaillard Du Mesnil can take the first for Mullins.
1.55 Grade One Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 3m80yds
Monkfish has frightened away most of the opposition, and rightfully so as last year's Albert Bartlett Hurdle winner has been imperious in his three starts over fences.
Twice successful at Grade One level, he looks to be getting better with each run and Mullins' seven-year-old is 11lbs clear of his nearest rival on official ratings with his five opponents set to play for second place barring a mishap.
The Big Breakaway hasn't been seen since finishing second to Shan Blue in a Kempton Grade One on St Stephen's Day when his jumping let him down and the best of the English may be Sporting John.
Philip Hobbs' charge left a poor chasing debut well behind when defeating Shan Blue in the Grade One Scilly Isles at Sandown last month and is rated next best to the red-hot market leader.
De Bromhead's Eklat De Rire is open to improvement given that he has only had four starts under Rules and the front-runner has taken to fences like a duck to water with a Grade Three victory at Naas on his last start.
Verdict: Sporting John can chase home Monkfish.
2.30 Grade Three Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m5f
There have been just 10 Irish-trained winners with the home team traditionally packing a much stronger punch and Nicky Henderson is the most successful trainer in the race's history with four wins since 2010, including the past two renewals.
Victory for Dame De Compagnie last year was the first favourite to oblige since 2003 and Henderson has another strong team with Monte Cristo (11-2) and Craigneiche (10-10) both runaway winners on their most recent starts and open to further improvement.
Henderson's former inmate Grand Roi (11-6) is of interest for Denise Foster having landed a Limerick Grade Two in good style over Christmas while Mullins saddles a quartet of runners with Paul Townend's mount Koshari (11-3) a talking horse at Closutton.
Stablemate Blue Sari (10-9), runner-up to Envoi Allen in the 2019 Champion Bumper, could be flung in off a mark of 138, though, should he bounce back to something like his best and Mark Walsh's mount has already been strongly supported having opened up at a juicy 25/1 earlier this week.
The six-year-old must leave some poor recent form behind but the JP McManus colours command huge respect in Cheltenham handicaps and he may leave his mark with Emmet Mullins' Sneaky Getaway another for the shortlist.
Verdict: Blue Sari can bounce back to his best under Walsh.
3.05 Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 1m7f199yds
The late omission of Altior is disappointing, but it doesn't take the gloss off a star-studded feature where half of the field are rated 165 or above.
Chacun Pour Soi faces the unique demands of Cheltenham for the first time, but he has been phenomenal since joining Mullins with four Grade One victories among his six wins and his sole defeat coming at the hands of Gold Cup fancy A Plus Tard.
Cilaos Emery was a surprise inclusion for Mullins and doesn't have much to find to be in the mix while last year's winner Politologue should find the going much tougher this time around with younger alternatives sought.
Last year's Arkle winner Put The Kettle On is unbeaten in three Cheltenham starts and cannot be discounted despite no mare prevailing in this contest before while De Bromhead also saddles outsider Notebook in a race which the Waterford trainer has won twice in the past decade.
First Flow has won six on the bounce and Kim Bailey's nine-year-old is another which could ask questions of the favourite, but Nube Negra may be the most likely to take Chacun Pour Soi down.
The Skelton brothers, trainer Dan and jockey Harry, are in flying form and having lowered the colours of Altior last time out in his sole start this season, the seven-year-old (third in the Boodles on his only Festival start in 2018) has the perfect profile to go close.
Verdict: Nube Negra (e/w) can flourish in a cracking renewal.
3.40 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m6f
The popular choice would be victory for Tiger Roll with the dual Cross Country winner bidding for his fifth Festival victory, but the 11-year-old hasn't been at his best since suffering defeat in this contest 12 months ago.
French raider Easysland had far too much for him on that occasion and a vote for Tiger Roll is more in hope than expectation. And while the reigning champion looks the most likely to prevail once again, David Cottin's charge trades at prohibitive odds.
Easysland came into this with perfect preparation 12 months, but the seven-year-old was a below-par fourth here in November and hasn't been seen since so value is sought elsewhere despite McManus already having seven winners of this prize in the past.
Irish trainers have landed 13 of the 16 runnings and Some Neck may be the fly in the ointment having shown his flair for this stamina test when negotiating the 32 obstacles to land a course and distance handicap in December.
John McConnell has excelled across the water this season and with Richard Johnson in the plate, the 10-year-old looks the value each-way alternative despite having a lot to find with the market leaders on official ratings.
Verdict: Some Neck (e/w) can provide value for punters.
4.15 Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m
Only one winner has carried more than 11-5 to victory since the turn of the Millennium so that makes the task of 2020 hero Chosen Mate (11-10) a bit tougher, although the talented Jordan Gainford takes a valuable 7lbs off for new trainer Foster.
Embittered (11-0) was third in the County Hurdle last March for Joseph O'Brien and despite still being a maiden over fences, the seven-year-old will find this task much easier having rubbed shoulders with Ireland's finest novices in his four chase efforts.
O'Brien also saddles another five-chase maiden in the shape of Entoucas (10-11), but more improvement is expected from some decent efforts in lucrative handicap chases, although Nick Williams may have the answer to this riddle.
The Devon trainer landed handicaps at the 2018 and 2019 Festivals and this has been the target for Moonlighter (11-1) from a long way out. If he gets in a rhythm out the front under David Bass, the eight-year-old could spring a surprise at a big price after showing his rude health at Sandown last month.
Verdict: Moonlighter can solve a difficult puzzle.
4.50 Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper 4-6yo 2m87yds
Mullins has trained the winner on 10 occasions - including the first two home last year – and it's no surprise to see him with a host of leading chances among his five contenders this year.
His hand was further strengthened by the arrival of Sir Gerhard – his owners Cheveley Park have won the last two renewals – and the Listed bumper winner done nothing wrong in his two starts under Rules for Gordon Elliott.
There could be more to come, but it's hard to get away from the ease with which Kilcruit obliterated a star-studded field in the Grade Two bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and that tips the balance in his favour.
That jaw-dropping display puts him 7lbs clear on ratings and anything close to a repeat will see him prevail under Paul Townend with Grangee also a live each-way contender for Mullins while the exciting Three Stripe Life is an intriguing challenger for Foster.
Verdict: Kilcruit can confirm his class under Townend.
