Spotlight: Grade 1-placed over hurdles and already a better chaser, making it 2-4 in this discipline when a well-backed 3l winner of a strong 2m4f novice handicap at Punchestown in May (2m4f, yielding); took an 8lb hit for that but the ceiling of his ability is not yet established and he should stay this far; Townend's pick of the Mullins runners.

Spotlight: Point, bumper and maiden hurdle winner; record of 2-8 over fences and signed off for previous yard on a high, winning a small-field Grade 3 before outrunning his odds behind last year's Galway Plate hero Western Fold in a 3m1f Grade 1 novice chase at Punchestown in April; intriguing runner now with Gordon Elliott, who has won this five times.

Spotlight: Course winner; off for 110 days but proven when fresh; last season ended on a high with his second to a handicap snip in the Plate at Cheltenham in March (2m4f) and then going one better when reversing those placings in the Topham at Aintree (2m5f); straightforward and a good jumper who should be well suited by the demands of this race; player.

Spotlight: Fourth in last year's Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham; successful chase debut over 2m2f here last September and two good runs in defeat afterwards, including a Grade 2; after two runs over hurdles he returned to fences in a handicap at Roscommon and excuses came to light afterwards; too talented to dismiss.

Spotlight: Absent for 141 days but returns with his yard in great form; only had five runs over fences, winning twice and better than ever when a 10l fourth in the 2m4f Plate at the Cheltenham Festival; that form can be upgraded as he was hampered on a couple of occasions and has a useful pull in the weights with runner-up Will The Wise; yet to tackle this far under rules but he won a 3m point; tempting.

Spotlight: 2-4 over fences, though not seen in this discipline since well held in a Grade 3 at this fixture two years ago; he returns in excellent form, in recent weeks winning on the Flat (2m) and over hurdles at Cork (3m); could have a big run in him.

Spotlight: Dual hurdle winner; beat Ballygunner Castle to get off the mark as a chaser at Naas and for one so inexperienced he did well to finish a 6l third behind Funiculi Funicula in a 22-runner handicap at Punchestown in May (2m4f, yielding); has low mileage for a 9yo and there could be more to come; finished second in a bumper on one previous visit to Galway.

Spotlight: The winner of two bumpers and a maiden hurdle; this is a big ask for a maiden over fences (0-4) but his seconds read well (pushed Spread Boss Ted close in one of those) and he looked in need of further than 2m4f when behind that rival and Funiculi Funicula on his handicap debut at Punchestown; could deliver the career best this race demands.

Spotlight: Course winner; this meeting owes him one having twice finished runner-up in the Galway Hurdle (and fourth) and second in this last year behind Western Fold; returns off a 2lb lower mark despite beating notable opposition at Listowel on final run; solid chance.

Spotlight: For one who stays much further he ran surprisingly well when splitting Senecia and Jess Evans in a 2m4f Grade 3 at Killarney last time, which was his first run over that sort of trip since 2023; he knows what these big-field handicaps are all about and could run well at lengthy odds with a 7lb claimer easing his burden.

Spotlight: Progressive chaser but went up 10lb for winning a 2m4f Grade 3 in April and he came up short back in a handicap at Wexford, though still ran well and probably found the 2m3f trip sharp enough; each-way possibilities, though regular partner Darragh O'Keeffe has deserted him this time.

Spotlight: 4-13 over hurdles and 1-5 as a chaser; unlikely that he gave his true running when a beaten favourite behind Nouvotic last time and his previous fourth over 2m4f at the Cheltenham Festival raises optimism; Townend has turned elsewhere, however.

Spotlight: Career best form when fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November (2m4f, soft); back from a break with two seconds, though was no match for the winner on either occasion (including Nouvotic); travels well but doesn't always find much for pressure.

Spotlight: Lacks course form over fences; smart novice who ran creditably in two strong handicaps (3m2f/2m5f) last season before finishing tailed off in the Grand National at Aintree where not a lot went right (twice badly hampered; 20-1); enters the reckoning.

Spotlight: Beat Will The Wise on his chase debut here last October and followed up in a Grade 3; appeared stretched by nearly 3m in the Mayo National before a determined victory back over 2m4f at Kilbeggan (cheekpieces returned); this intermediate trip might be just the ticket.

Spotlight: Useful three-time winner over hurdles; didn't look that progressive as a chaser until comfortably beating 20 rivals in a 3m Listed handicap at Punchestown in May; a 6lb rise could have been worse and he's now 2-3 under J J Slevin; couldn't put a line through him.

Spotlight: Some inconsistency has crept in but off a reduced mark and running in just the tongue-tie, he returned to form with a second of 14 behind Solitary Man in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan (3m1f, good); whether he'll repeat that remains to be seen and he probably appreciates further than 2m6f these days.

Spotlight: Smart staying hurdler/chaser who made a mistake at the wrong time when beaten about 18l in this 12 months ago when 5lb higher; failed to threaten afterwards in both disciplines, and again in a recent run on the Flat; others appeal more.

Spotlight: A better hurdler than chaser but rated accordingly; however, he was a disappointing favourite in the Mayo National when last seen two months ago; others are more intriguing.

Spotlight: Won a hunter chase in May and last time returned to his best when emerging from off a strong pace to beat Perceval Legallois in the 3m1f Midlands National at Kilbeggan; ideally wants further than this but a solid pace would help in that respect; back up 7lb.

Spotlight: One-time smart hurdler; three chase wins in the space of four runs last year included a beginners chase at this meeting and a 2m2f Grade 3 at Punchestown; hasn't kicked on at all from that sequence and he'd be a surprise winner.

Spotlight: Rated this high for a reason and was never headed when beating Three Card Brag in a Grade 3 at Killarney when last seen in May; however, he'll do well to repeat those tactics in this race and he was well beaten last year (held up).