bungalow24

Ciccone is the standout rider here with proven climbing class and recent top-level form. He’s aggressive in the mountains and has won big stages at WorldTour level. The parcours suits him perfectly, and with Trek supporting him fully, he should be in the leader’s jersey mix throughout.

Storer is a pure climber who thrives in week-long stage races with uphill finishes. He’s consistent, has good endurance over multiple stages, and knows how to manage GC efforts. With several summit finishes expected, he could land a podium or sneak a win if the big favourites mark each other out. Great each-way value at 14/1.

Higgins looked strong in the first round and tends to step up as the tournament progresses. Xiao is capable but lacks the consistency to stay with him over 25 frames. I can see Higgins taking control after the mid-session and closing it out 13 - 7. Solid value at the price.

I’m backing Higgins to go all the way this year. He’s coming in fresh off winning the Tour Championship and looks like he’s timed his form perfectly. The draw works out nicely too ??" no real heavyweights until the quarters or semis, so he’s got a good chance to build momentum. He knows how to win here (4-time champ), and if he gets to the one-table setup, his experience could be massive. At the current odds, there’s real value for a player who’s peaking at the right time.

Murphy comes in flying after winning the Masters and looks full of belief. He’s got the game to beat anyone ??" one of the heaviest scorers on tour ??" and his fitness and focus have improved massively. If he gets past Judd Trump early, the whole bottom half could open up for him. Already a former world champ with three runner-up finishes, and he loves the big stage. Huge price for someone in this kind of form.