SAM HARDY

1. Shishkin 2. Energumene 3. Fusil Raffles

For many punters the Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin will be their idea of a banker for the festival having won each of his three chases since his brilliant Supreme Novices’ Hurdle win last year. It’s no secret how much the team at Seven Barrows rate Shishkin and for me he looks every bit as good as Altior did at this stage of his career, if not better. Energumene has huge potential and should prove the main danger to the selection.