Summary
Nicky Henderson and Oliver Sherwood trained runners would appear to be the obvious place to start having been responsible for the past five winners.
However, Henderson has also saddled four beaten favourites in the last decade, including on three of the occasions that he has lifted the top prize.
They are not the only trainers to concentrate on as Jonjo O'Neill has sent just three runners to post and has come away with a first and a second but the race has not been so kind to Alan King whose nine runners have realised two places.
Cross The Flags is much respected but it may prove worth taking a chance with one at the other end of the weights in Josh's Dreamway who, like 2002 winner Monger Lane, races from out of the handicaps.
Recent renewals have been landed by horses higher up the handicap but this useful bumper performer appeared to benefit signifcantly from encountering better ground and a longer trip on her handicap debut at Exeter last time.
Her run at Cheltenham in November where she was just three lengths behind Supreme fourth Montbazon suggests that she could still be extremely well handicapped and her yard continues in fine form.
