Binocular was an emphatic winner of last season's Champion Hurdle but can he notch back-to-back successes when he takes on some mighty contenders in this year's renewal.
Nicky Henderson's speedster is 3/1 favourite for the race this campaign but his opposition is high class and it is set to be the most intriguing race of the festival. The seven-year-old has already been beaten this year in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle by Donald McCain's Peddlers Cross (11/2 various) but bounced back when trouncing a quality field in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
Peddlers Cross still remains unbeaten over timber and shows he has the track form after winning the Neptune Investment Hurdle at last year's festival and is a definite challenger to the favourite.
Meanwhile, Menorah (5/1 various) has the classiest form of the entire field after winning both the Greatwood and the International at Cheltenham. The turn of foot Philip Hobbs' six-year-old showed when winning the International to pull away from Cue Card (33/1 various) was that of a champion and he looks to be the one to beat.
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