Spotlight: Deprived of a third Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph by Inothewayurthinkin following a thoroughly satisfactory preparation in the shape of two C&D wins, following the same pattern as the previous season; back on song when making all to trounce three rivals at Punchestown; boasts an outstanding course record (7-8) and is bidding to win this for a third time

Spotlight: Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner; failed to test Galopin Des Champs in two C&D clashes before justifying his supplementary entry by denying the Mullins-trained star a Gold Cup hat-trick; powerful stayer is likely to be much sharper than at Punchestown five weeks ago.

Spotlight: Winner of the Punchestown Gold Cup twice, beating Galopin Des Champs both times; also had the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner among his victims when winning the John Durkan two seasons ago; best of the remainder behind the dominant pair, Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File, on seasonal debut in this year's John Durkan; 0-4 at this venue.

Spotlight: Off for 21 months before winning chase debut in January; struggled in DRF Grade 1 won by Ballyburn; readily landed the odds in a 2m Grade 3 event at Navan; jumped to the left when third in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; career-best when beating Ballyburn in 3m1f Grade 1 at Punchestown; did well over an inadequate trip at Naas on return.

Spotlight: A leading novice chaser last season when unbeaten in three completed starts; took advantage of Ballyburn's failure to beat Stellar Story in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; fell at the fifth in a 3m1f Grade 1 event won by Champ Kiely at the Punchestown festival; never involved in the John Durkan on reappearance; return to longer trip should help

Spotlight: Won Down Royal Grade 1 two seasons ago before being trounced by Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 edition of this race; back to form when 3 1/2l runner-up in 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup; showed no ill-effects from a hard race when beating Ahoy Senor at Aintree; did not appear again last season after Down Royal defeat; faces a tough task against that background.

Spotlight: In good form this season; runner-up in a Gowran Grade 2 before chasing home Envoi Allen in Down Royal Grade 1; took advantage of a drop in class when scoring at Thurles a month ago; up against it now in a race of significant depth.

Spotlight: Second in the Irish Gold Cup over C&D in February and an excellent third behind Nick Rockett in the Grand National, rallying well after a bad mistake at the final fence; signed off with a creditable fifth when shouldering 12 stone in the bet365Gold Cup; never threatened in the John Durkan, should be closer to peak fitness now.

Spotlight: Won Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown (3m, soft) last season and 4l second to Lecky Watson in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham; looks well held by Champ Kiely on running at the Punchestown festival; made little impression in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on return.

Spotlight: Won the 2023 Irish National and a brilliant winner of the 2024 Grand National; contested two Grade 1 events at this venue before being produced in superb shape (despite having missed his final prep race) at Aintree in April; terrific display under 11-12 to split his stablemates Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West; tailed off in the John Durkan on reappearance.

Spotlight: Chase record is an off-putting 1-9; can perform respectably at a high level; second in Grade 1s as a novice, fourth behind Inothwayurthinkin in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup; laboured under a big weight burden in the Coral Gold Cup.

Spotlight: One of three for yard; started last season with three wins, including Grade 1 novice chases at Fairyhouse and this venue; beaten 5l by Ballyburn at the DRF here in February before failing to fire at Aintree; below best on seasonal return at Punchestown and ineffective over a trip short of his optimum at Down Royal.