Buena Vista produced a terrific front-running performance at last year's festival to bag the Pertemps Final and David Pipe's ten-year-old will be looking for back-to-back successes in this year's contest.
However, he has not won since this race last term and has been on the decline and it is no surprise that the bookmakers have pushed him out to 20/1. Sivota heads the market at 12/1 for Willie Mullins after running creditably in Ireland. It is a bit surprising to see him heading the market as he has put up some fair efforts but has hardly set the world alight and hasn't won a race since September and there are some other more interesting contenders.
Nicky Henderson's Lush Life is definitely one that enters the reckoning at 16/1 with William Hill. Last year saw him just edge out Supreme Novice winner and Champion Hurdle hopeful Menorah but he disappointed when finishing ninth behind Grands Crus in the Intermediate Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He then bounced back in style when beating Barwell Bridge and if the right Lush Life turns up on the day he will be very tough to beat. |