Only two of the last 17 winners had failed to pass the line in front on their most recent race, and the last 13 victors have all been rated higher than 80 on the level.
* 15 of the last 17 winners had all scored at least twice least over the obstacles before taking this.
* Nicky Henderson (Grandouet and A Media Luz) with five wins and Alan King (Smad Place and maybe Kumbeshwar) with two wins, two seconds and a third in the last six years have been the trainers to follow.
* The Irish have a poor record in a race. Only five out of 46 runners have managed to reach the frame since Scolardy's victory in 2002.
