Snowy Morning can make good use of his huge pull in the weights with Denman and claim Newbury's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup today.
The pair are old adversaries, having clashed in the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham last season when Denman ran out a 10-length champion of the novice event.
However, the winning margin does not tell the full story as Snowy Morning suffered a less-than-ideal passage, after being impeded by a faller, and showed great heart to stay on up the Cheltenham hill.
That second provided a high point in a thoroughly fruitful season which also yielded a Grade Two win as well as two other victories.
Although he disappointed at Punchestown, Snowy Morning probably had had enough by that point and it is best to chalk that run off to experience.
Denman would appear to hold a decisive advantage over Willie Mullins' raider but Snowy Morning will be in receipt of over a stone here and will want for nothing from the saddle with Tony McCoy in the plate. Mullins sent out Be My Royal to win here some five years ago, only for the horse to lose the race following a subsequent positive test.
Compensation surely awaits with Snowy Morning.
Chief Dan George would be half the price he is for the totesport.com Long Distance Hurdle if hailing from a powerhouse yard.
To that end, Jimmy Moffatt's seven-year-old represents outstanding value to show up the likes of Inglis Drever.
Last season's leading long-distance novice could prove a revelation this term if he conjures up the expected improvement in these sort of races.
The young pretender to Inglis Drever's staying-hurdle crown made Festival heroes Wichita Lineman and Massini's Maguire look very ordinary at Aintree when winning the Sefton.
Chief Dan George will obviously find it tough against some of these big-hitters but he has enough raw talent to polarise his World Hurdle credentials by taking this Grade Two heat.
Clopf can underline his class with victory in the "Fighting Fifth" Hurdle at Newcastle.
Edward O'Grady's charge bypassed the Cheltenham Festival last year but looked a real star in the making when scoring at the highest level at Punchestown.
Although he blew up badly on his Flat reappearance, Clopf showed he was still being slow to come to hand when looking in need of the run in a Punchestown Grade One last time.
There was no disgrace in the six-year-old's fourth behind Jazz Messenger and it would be a surprise if he cannot progress again from that run.
Recent Carlisle scorer Naunton Brook ducked the Hennessy in preference for the Rehearsal Chase and can gain handsome dividends for the Nigel Twiston-Davies camp, who remain in decent nick.
