Charlie Swan Selections: 2.00Amaretto Rose looks like being hard to beat, especially getting a 7lb allowance. That is a lot to have to concede to a good mare and 5lb would probably be plenty for them.

Amaretto Rose also has the ground in her favour.

Apart from her, it looks a wide open race and maybe Wins Now might be a bit of each way value. He has definitely been going the right way.

I haven't been convinced by De Valira. He won a false run race at Leopardstown and then got beaten at Punchestown.

Verdict: Amaretto Rose

2.35The way the ground has gone, Alan King probably is right to run My Way De Solzen in this race. Gemini Lucy and Fair Along will probably go a right gallop which will suit him and maybe set the race up for My Way.

Don't Push It is a horse I've always liked very much but at this stage of his career he might not have the class of My Way de Solzen.

I think it is probably between the two, although Faasel might be worth a little, each way.

Verdict: My Way de Solzen

3.15I am completely divided about this race, which is as good and competitive and open a Champion Hurdle as I can remember.

Around Christmas time, I advised people to back Iktitaf and there's no doubt if he comes back to his best, he will have a big chance. I also see he has a tongue strap declared. But the way Noel's horses are running, it's hard to know about him.

Then at the weekend, I thought Detroit City was the up-and-comer and would probably be the one to beat. But the more I think of it, the more I believe Hardy Eustace will just shade it.

My worry is that if the two of them, along with Brave Inca, take each other on. Then that might leave it open to a horse like Straw Bear coming from behind.

Verdict: Hardy Eustace

4.00It's amazing there are no Irish runners. Obviously everyone thinks they are badly handicapped.

So in the circumstances, I'll go for maybe a funny one in Distant Thunder.

He's a half brother to The Listener, and my horse, Offshore Account, and he used to be a good horse for Robert Alner.

He's with Noel Chance now and he's had a wind operation which I believe has done the trick for him. Cornish Rebel could be an each way option.

Verdict: Distant Thunder

4.40I would love to see Spot Thedifference win again but he has a big task. He is rated too high I think compared to his stable companion, Heads Onthe Ground, who has a big pull.

I know he is not guaranteed to stay but they don't go as fast around here and Nina will be able to hunt around.

Verdict: Heads Onthe Ground

5.20Gaspara put up a fantastic performance for a four-year-old to win the Imperial Cup on Saturday and with only a 4lb penalty, the Pipe horse is very hard to go against.

Jim Culloty's horse Madroos has a bit of an each way squeak on the ground.

Verdict: Gaspara

(In an interview with Brian O'Connor)