Dunguib all set for Surpeme

Dunguib has enjoyed the perfect preparation for Tuesday's Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Trainer Philip Fenton is happy that everything has gone according to plan for the seven-year-old, who arrives at Prestbury Park unbeaten over hurdles. He has polarised opinion in the run-up to the meeting, with some people describing him as a banker and others convinced his novicey jumping could prove a stumbling block.

However, Fenton is unconcerned by such talk and said: "Everything has gone just fine with him. We've kept him away from the track on purpose because he is a bit excitable, we've had him stabled at Jim Wilson's."

The handler added: "He did his final half-speed on Thursday and of course it is very exciting to be heading to the first race of the meeting with the hot favourite. We've not had the slightest problem with him, we wouldn't have declared him otherwise, no setbacks or anything."

Dunguib will face 17 rivals in the Festival opener, with the most notable withdrawals at the declaration stage being Bellvano, Peddlers Cross and Rite Of Passage, but all three have other options at the meeting.