THE BUILD-UP to today’s feature event at Cheltenham has been characterised by the story of the absentee as much as evaluating the leading contenders that will partake.

Altior reigned in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2018 and 2019 but the three-in-a-row hopes have been thwarted after he was found to be lame on Sunday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed yesterday that Altior won’t run after Nico De Boinville had steered him to glory over the past two years.

That reduces the ‘Big Three’ to a battle of the ‘Big Two’ with Defi Du Seuil, trained by Philip Hobbs, likely to be favourite ahead of the Willie Mullins-trained Chacun Pour Soi.

It sets up a potentially fascinating contest between that pair. Do the remaining quartet of challengers – Dynamite Dollars, Sceau Royal, Politologue and Bun Doran – have a chance of springing a surprise?

Or is this a race where one of the leading duo will triumph? 

Let us know who you think will be first home.