In addition to Day In A Lifetime and Up Ou That, Willie Mullins added a third contender in his bid to win this race for a seventh time when Bishopsfurze won on his debut last week and like Day In A Lifetime (12/1 with Bet365), he is a once-raced, unbeaten five-year-old like five of his six winners of this race.

Kieren Fallon looks like he will have his second ride in the race as has been snapped up for Old McDonald who was last seen in December winning at Ludlow and previously finished second beaten three lengths by leading fancy for this race Tavern Times whose stable supplied last season’s runner-up.

There has been some money this week for Drumbaloo (10/1 with Sportingbet) whose form when beating Western Leader was franked when the runner-up won a decent novice hurdle last week and Drumbaloo has won again since albeit by a short-head but it was the same Grade 2 race that Dunguib won last season before winning here.

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Araucaria now looks up against it after her odds-on defeat at Leopardstown on Sunday behind Edward O’Grady’s Shot From The Hip for the Magniers who is now fourth favourite and he looked good but I imagine J P Magnier will keep the ride and he won’t be able to claim his allowance which has to be a negative.

Champion Bumper Tip

• Back Day in a Lifetime @ 12/1 with Paddy Power

Total Enjoyment landed me one of my biggest wins ever in this contest when backed from 20/1 all the way down to 7/1 in 2004. I think half of Ireland was on that one!

Champion Bumper Tips

This year, one horse that looks very interesting is Megastar. It is not a Willie Mullins hotpot, nor is it in the first five of the betting, but in my eyes this horse will go very well here.

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Megastar’s first race at Sandown on Good, Good to Soft going was very impressive; he is a flyer! He beat some decent horses and in a matter of strides put the race to bed.

If you have not watched the closing stages of that Sandown race I would advise you to look it up and ask yourself would you be interested in taking 25/1 about that horse improving?

It is worth noting that Wayward Prince, who finished behind Megastar at Sandown, went on to win a maiden hurdle by 11 lengths, but even more eye-catching he was a runner up in the Class 1 Albert Bartlett novices hurdle at Haydock, beaten only a length.

3rd to Megastar that day was Rebel Rebellion, who next time out won a NH Flat race by 6 lengths. 4th to Megastar that day was Master of the Hall, who won two novice hurdles next time out.As you can see the race form reads very well and that’s why I am interested. He should not be 25/1. I would not be surprised if he started a lot shorter come race day.

There are plenty of unknowns in this race and some are sure to improve.

I was interested to read that Davy Russell liked Tavern Times, who is part owned by his father, and should know what they have.

Russell’s comments were “He’s very good, I promise ye, lads”.

Looking at the form, he matches the criteria for this race. I like a horse who has won in a larger sized field for this. Plus a couple of winners have come out of the race he won at Fairyhouse since.

He is Irish trained, 6 years old and won last time out, so he fits the bill nicely.

Champion Bumper Recommended Bets:

• Back Megastar – 1.5 pts each-way @ 25/1 with Paddy Power
• Back Tavern Times – 1 pt each-way @ 12/1 with Stan James