However, the five-year-old has taken to the larger obstacles exceptionally well and arrives at the two-mile novice championship event unbeaten in three starts.

His trailblazing style has thrilled punters and pundits alike, but Hobbs does harbour reservations about him being at his best on soft ground.

“He’s been amazing and we couldn’t believe that a horse of his stature could jump fences so well,” he said.

“He doesn’t have to lead, it depends how fast they go and how things work out.

“The biggest worry for me is the ground – we would have been much more confident on good to soft rather than soft.”

Fair Along beat his main market rival, Alan King’s My Way De Solzen, in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown earlier in the season, and the pair reoppose.

Hobbs told At The Races: “Obviously My Way De Solzen stays very well, but he has plenty of pace.

“It is interesting how many Gold Cup winners have been placed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over two miles where you would normally think the two-mile-five novices’ hurdle would suit them better.

“We nearly didn’t run Fair Along the day we beat My Way De Solzen because the ground was very soft.

“So at least we know now that he will cope with soft, but at the same time we know that it will be against us.

“He jumps very well indeed and I think sometimes the smaller horses have the advantage of being more athletic.

“Sometimes a great big brute of horse might struggle over fences as they can’t shorten up.”

Tony McCoy will be on board Jonjo O’Neill’s Don’t Push It for his boss JP McManus

It looked for a long while as if he would be taking on Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase but connections have decided to drop him back in trip.

“I’m hopeful about Don’t Push It,” said the champion jockey.

“He got within three-quarters of a length of Denman, but he didn’t get past him. He did run well that day, though. He’s a good horse and I’m definitely looking forward to riding him.

“It should be a good race. My Way De Solzen is a very good horse, but he’d obviously be better over a little bit further and Fair Along looks an out-and-out two-miler. He could take a bit of catching. He deserves to be favourite and he has the best form over two miles in the book, but obviously Don’t Push It and My Way De Solzen will be staying on.”

David Pipe is hoping his first Festival runner can be a winner in the shape of Buena Vista.

Smart in bumpers and over hurdles, he is unbeaten in two starts over fences and Timmy Murphy takes over from McCoy in the saddle.

“It’s a very competitive race obviously, especially with My Way De Solzen in it now, as well as Fair Along,” said Pipe.

“But I keep going back to his form when he was third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year behind Noland and Straw Bear. That was a fantastic performance. With a bit of luck in running I think he has a great chance.”

Since Pipe’s father Martin retired, Nicky Henderson is now the trainer with the most Festival wins to his name and he goes looking for another with Jack The Giant.

“I am a bit concerned about the ground for Jack but we have taken the decision to go,” he said.

“There is nothing to say he won’t go on soft ground – it was good to soft when he won at Kempton – but he is such a good mover it has meant we have ummed and ahhed about it for days.

“But he’s in very good order and I would like to think he will go on the ground. We have to run him to find out if he is good enough.”

Paul Nicholls has a good record in the Arkle with Azertyuiop and Flagship Uberalles scoring for the Ditcheat handler in recent years, and he is double-handed this time round.

“Good Spirit was disappointing on his first run for us, but he improved and won well at Stratford,” said Nicholls.

“I thought he ran nicely behind Natal (at Kempton) last time. He will be much better going left-handed over two miles. I wouldn’t rule Twist Magic out of the race, either, he always runs well when he is fresh and he is definitely that.”

There is a strong Northern challenge with Faasel, Lennon and Another Promise, while Vintage Treasure and Gemini Lucy represent Ireland.

Jonathan Jay’s Tidal Fury, a Grade One winner over hurdles in France, completes the field of 13.