Can Hurricane Fly blow them away?

Menorah took over the favourite’s mantle when the reigning champion was withdrawn on Sunday morning and deservedly so, having been the subject of glowing home reports since dispatching his International rivals with a blistering change of pace in December.

That enhanced his excellent Cheltenham record – he also prevailed in the Greatwood and last year’s Supreme Novices’ – while Peddlers Cross is another 2010 Festival hero returning to the scene of his greatest triumph.

Donald McCain’s stable star is still unbeaten and claimed the scalp of Binocular when returning with a victory in the rearranged Fighting Fifth at Newbury.

He then had to work harder than perhaps many expected to win his Kelso warm-up, with Jason Maguire having to keep his mind on the job up the run-in, and he was also caught a bit flat-footed before staying on best of all in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago. With that in mind, this speed test could find him out.

That will not be a concern for connections of Hurricane Fly, though.

Willie Mullins’s charge has been beaten just twice over obstacles and has swept all before him in his native Ireland this season.

Admittedly, he faces his acid test this afternoon but he travels with such ease and his jumping has become much more fluent, and Ruby Walsh can be expected to hold him up until the last minute before utilising his potent acceleration in the dash to the line.

Injury has forced Hurricane Fly to sit on the sidelines for the past two years but patience is a virtue and this champion-in-waiting can finally ascend to the top of the hurdling tree.

Paul Townend has guided Hurricane Fly to each of his three victories this season but Walsh is back in the saddle, having returned from injury.

“Obviously we had a decision to make regarding the jockey, but it’s very difficult to leave off the leading jockey around Cheltenham,” said Mullins.

McCain is confident Peddlers Cross is at the peak of his powers as he prepares to put his unbeaten record on the line.

“He’s in tremendous form. He’s absolutely bouncing at the moment and is working out of his skin,” McCain continued. “If he’s anywhere near his best, he won’t be the easiest horse to get past.”

Dunguib adds further strength to the Irish party but he is not the machine many believed him to be heading into last year’s Festival and a place appears the best he can achieve – a remark that also applies to Welsh Champion Hurdle hero Oscar Whisky, who is an able deputy for Binocular’s trainer, Nicky Henderson.

Marsh Warbler can get the Yorkshire raiding party off to a flyer in the Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which kicks off the 2011 Festival.

Brian Ellison has opted to pitch his juvenile in against his elders rather than risk him on potentially quick ground in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle, even though this means taking on last year’s Festival winner Cue Card.

Marsh Warbler was a useful handicapper at best on the level for Mark Johnston and David Simcock, but has really come into his own since sent jumping and has claims of being the leading four-year-old hurdler on the basis of his battling performance to land Chepstow’s Grade 1 Finale Hurdle over Christmas.

Ellison has kept his powder dry since, although John Quinn’s Recession Proof will not go down without a fight. The Rock Of Gibraltar gelding is another to have arrived via the Flat route and has also taken to his new discipline with aplomb. A commendable Ascot second, sandwiched confidence-boosting successes in a couple of smaller events, before a win in a ‘jumper’s bumper’ at Southwell prompted connections to target the totesport Trophy at Newbury.

Despite his relative inexperience, he showed excellent resolution to deny the Brian Ellison-trained Bothy and a host of other seasoned handicappers, and that will stand him in good stead up the final Cheltenham hill – although the 8lb he must concede to Marsh Warbler may prove the deciding factor.