the prophet

The 7-year-old mare has 2 wins from 9 over hurdles. She is now 5 lb lower than her return mark this winter. On top of her game, she finished a close 3rd of 23 four weeks ago in the competitive County Handicap Hurdle at the Festival, staying on well at the finish. This longer trip should suit her. She has just two previous runs over this 20-furlong trip. One was in Grade 1 company; the other was a Class 2 handicap where she finished a very close 2nd of 13 as a 5-year-old.

The Willie Mullins-trained 7yo was a runner-up in two Irish Grade 1 chase races at the end of last year, not landing a blow, but the form has been boosted. He was a close 2nd of 18 at the Festival in a handicap while racing off a high mark. His RPR rating posted that day is the best among these runners. Ridden by an apprentice in that race, and for this Grade 1 Paul Townsend takes over.

The 6-year-old was a close second in the Grade 1 Supreme Hurdle at the Festival, with an error at the last costing him that day. He looks a class above these five rivals in this Grade 1 hurdle.

The 8-year-old has gone to another level this campaign, with 3 wins from 4 over fences. He was an impressive 10-length winner of the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the festival and posted a big rating. He's the one they have to beat in this Grade 1 chase.

The 8-year-old could go well at a big price. Back from a year off the track with a run in a 23-runner festival handicap chase, he was badly hampered at the first fence but travelled strongly and had made smooth headway into fourth before losing all momentum with a bad blunder four out. The jockey wasn't hard on him. He won on his return in his previous campaign, and on his next outing he was only beaten 3 lengths by the very smart Haiti Couleurs, who is rated a huge 35 lb higher now.

Unexposed 5yo, four hurdle runs, form 2-1-1-3. Only beaten 3L in a 21-runner Grade 1 at the Festival. Not much went his way that day, but he stayed on very strongly at the finish. His ratings are closely matched to the favourite in this race. I feel the longer trip and a first run on a flat track will benefit the selection in this Grade 1 hurdle.

The 5yo has 2 wins from 7 over hurdles. Three runs this winter. Beaten under 2L on his return in a decent handicap. Runner-up last time in another decent handicap; outpaced after a blunder at the last, but I like the fact that he still finished 18L clear of the rest. More to come from this one, just a lb higher mark and a very strong jockey booking for this apprentice/amateur riders' handicap hurdle.

The Japanese player is on top of his game, making all 8 cuts this year. He won the Masters in 2019 and has played well in the tournament every year since 2015, never missing the cut.

The 26-year-old Swede is on top of his game. He was 3rd, 5th, and 5th in his last three PGA Tour events, which include the quality Players Championship. He finished second in the 2024 Masters. No problem with the tricky course, and he will be keen to go one better.

The Brit youngster is having a good first season on the PGA Tour: 16th, 4th, and 21st in his last four comps. He showed great up-and-down skills when finishing 4th at the Valspar. That, along with a long drive, are two big attributes for this Augusta course. He shouldn’t have any nerves until the back nine on the final day.

The world No. 1 has been a little below par this season, but he has produced some very low final-round scores when out of contention. It looks to me like he’s been trying some new things and will be 100% focused now as we go into the first major tournament of the year.

Top player, winning the $10M FedEx Cup last August. Four top-ten finishes in five events this year. Finished 3rd in the Masters in 2024. Looks set for a big week.