PAT COONEY

Bet365

I’m confident Constitution Hill will beat Honeysuckle. He was exceptional in the Supreme and is likely to improve further this season. Given that they won’t meet until Champion Hurdle day, I hope the clash gets a huge publicity build-up that gets everyone talking about the race.

The key is whether Galopin Des Champs stays. In terms of ability he’s probably the most talented contender, but 3m2½f is a long way to go with his exuberant style of running. It is safer at this stage to side with reigning champion A Plus Tard.

Energumene and Shishkin rightly dominate the market, but I can see Ferny Hollow and Gentleman De Mee having good seasons and emerging as realistic dangers to the big two.

Flooring Porter is the most likely winner at this stage, but he has a number of serious rivals. Buzz would probably have started favourite for last season’s race but for injury, while the Charles Byrnes-trained Blazing Khal is another of interest if he has overcome his setback.