Andy Stewart has nominated Go Native as the horse to beat in Tuesday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle but trainer Paul Nicholls believes the race is wide open.
Stewart and Nicholls will be represented by Celestial Halo in the feature on day one of the Cheltenham Festival but they have different opinions on how their charge will fare.
Celestial Halo split Punjabi and Binocular in last year's race but it has proved to be a mixed season for the trio and Stewart believes they all need to improve in order to challenge.
"I think you can put a line through last year's one-two-three as they have not really franked the form since," said the owner.
"Go Native sets the standard and he is the one we have all got to beat."
Nicholls, however, feels the six-year-old is at his best at this time of the year with the form to prove it and he is confident he remains a leading contender for Tuesday's showpiece.
"I am happy with him and he is definitely a spring horse, as he has proved winning a Triumph and by his run in the Champion last year," the champion trainer explained.
"He was very impressive first time out this year when he gave weight and a beating to Mamlook.
"He ran well in the Greatwood giving weight away to Khyber Kim and Medermit, and on that form he would have every chance.
"The blinkers have made a big difference to him at home. I have been happy with the way he is working and he has a chance in a race which looks wide open."