Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle:Davy Russell will not be worrying about any of his rivals as he gets the leg up on Carlito Brigante in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.
No great shakes on the level, Carlito Brigante has taken to hurdling brilliantly well and has won his last three races in impressive fashion .
Bought by Gordon Elliott on the advice of his good friend and jockey Jason Maguire after winning at Musselburgh in November, he now runs in the famous colours of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud.
He slammed his main market rival, Edward O'Grady's Alaivan, by 11 lengths in a Grade Two at Leopardstown at Christmas and returned to Musselburgh to beat a fair field in the Scottish Triumph Hurdle.
As with all the Gigginstown horses, Russell will be in the saddle.
"He would break your heart riding him in work and he shocked us all when winning at Leopardstown," said Russell. "Despite his homework he has kept winning. Whether he is a Triumph Hurdle horse I don't know, but it might just be his style.
"I won't be worrying about anything else if my horse jumps and travels."
Alaivanwas prominent in the ante-post betting for the race before he had even run over hurdles due to the form he showed on the Flat for John Oxx.
After his defeat at Christmas, he then came out and sluiced up by 17 lengths at Fairyhouse to get his season back on track
"I am very happy with the ground for him. He is not a big horse and has a fantastic action and a wonderful stride on him," said O'Grady. "His action has returned recently after running on heavy ground and his work has been far superior than it was earlier in the season.
"Sadly the form book does not lie and Carlito Brigante beat us solidly. The one thing did I did learn that day is that my horse can jump quickly.
"I think Carlito Brigante should be favourite, but I hope that we can reverse the placings."
Nicky Henderson has already saddled four winners of this race, including Zaynar 12 months ago, and this year relies on Soldatino.
The former French gelding made a pleasing British debut at Kempton last month and Henderson believes there is more to come.
"He arrived from France and we put him in the Adonis to have a look and he looked quite good," said the Seven Barrows trainer. "You could not fail to be impressed with him at Kempton. I liked the way he did it, he was very professional.
"He's not had a lot of experience so you'd like to think he should have come on a bit for that.
"They don't look a vintage bunch. They are OK but there is no real tip-top horse."
Paul Nicholls struck with Celestial Halo two years ago and saddles Advisor, unbeaten in two starts, this time.
The champion trainer is delighted Ruby Walsh has chosen Advisor over Secant Star from Willie Mullins' stable.
"Ruby had the choice between him and Secant Star, who I know has had a few problems, and I always hoped he would ride ours," he said. "He is two from two and while his bare form is not outstanding, there is no outstanding horse in the race.
"He jumps, stays and has a fantastic chance in an open race."
Charles Byrnes has tasted Festival success again this week when Weapon's Amnesty ran out an easy winner of Wednesday's RSA Chase - 12 months after the same horse landed the Albert Bartlett.
Pittoni, his representative in the Triumph, won his first three races over hurdles, including a Grade One at Leopardstown in February, but lost his unbeaten record on his last start at Navan.
"He's had a very good season. He could do with more rain tomorrow though, there is no doubt about that," said Byrnes. "His form wasn't exactly advertised in the Fred Winter yesterday as the horses he has beaten were nowhere.
"He was taking on older horses last time so it maybe wasn't as bad as we first thought. The winner (Coole River) had beaten Quel Esprit the time before so he's obviously pretty good.
"We'll hope for the best. We could do with it being a bit later in the day if the rain does come. We'll just hope for the best.