A Banquet for Mullins

That rival must concede two pounds to Alexander Banquet, rendering him vulnerable on the form of their length-and-a-quarter disparity at level weights. While both horses are likely to stay this extended three mile two furlong trip, ground on the testing side of good-to-soft plays into the hands of Walsh's mount.

While 1997 Hennessy hero Suny Bay is the sole horse in the past 15 years to carry more than 11 stone to victory, this is one of the classiest renewals in recent memory.

If Alexander Banquet is going to steal Florida Pearl's thunder in the 2001 Cheltenham Gold Cup, he must be able to win off a mark of 147 with 11st 3lb here. Beau is another with Gold Cup pretensions after his amazing demolition of Sandown's Whitbread field last April.

He's been hiked a stone in the ratings since and, while his third behind Foxchapel King at Cheltenham earlier this month was sound enough, he took time to hit his stride last season. Strictly on form, albeit that he may have improved since their last encounters, he may be pushed to confirm superiority over Marlborough, Browjoshy and Spendid on these terms. Doubts persist about all three - the first hasn't proved his jumping infallible, the second is moody and the third was beaten in a far less competitive renewal last year.

Of the market leaders, you can't have Kingsmark at such short odds nor Lady Cricket at any price. The latter's routing of the Thomas Pink Gold Cup field was no fluke and a mere four pound penalty would give her a stand-out chance were it not for her highly doubtful stamina. Don't even go there.

Indifferent jumping had held the former back, yet he got his act together for trainer Martin Tod-hunter at Haydock last time. But his affinity for heavy ground, his chief rivals running below-par and doubtful stayer Tresor De Mai as his nearest pursuer all suggest he may have been flattered.

Ad Hoc is short enough for a horse whose claim to fame is an Ayr novice chase win. He was winning when falling at the last on his Win-canton return, ceding him the call over eventual second, King's Road, if standing up on the same terms here. His charge close-up third to Scottish National hero Paris Pike catches the eye.

But Windross, a distant but eased-down third in that same Wincanton chase, may be the better dark horse at a longer price. A smart hurdler and novice chaser, he's open to improvement on soft ground over this longer trip and benefits from the services of Richard Johnson.

Fragile Foxchapel King has no stamina doubts, is young enough still to be improving and won impressively at Cheltenham last time, while Gingembre (who fell when third in that same race) was progressive last season and has each-way claims if his jumping holds up. Strong Tel is difficult to assess, returning from injury.