Talking points, analysis and an early tip for the Queen Mother Champion Chase

Talking points

1. Two-mile strength an issue everywhere

The 14 engaged represents the lowest number of entries since at least 1997 and the two titans of British jump racing, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson, who have won the race 12 times, are between them responsible for just one entry.

That is the Nicholls-trained Greaneteen, while Henderson's Shishkin, odds-on favourite for the race when pulled up last year, has been entered in the Ryanair and the Gold Cup instead.