The Challow Novice Hurdle at Newbury is invariably one of the best races of its type in Britain in the months leading up to the Cheltenham Festival, but on paper at least there has not been a renewal to match the strength and depth of Saturday’s 14-runner Grade One for a quarter of a century or more.
All but two of the runners go into the race off the back of a win, nine of the 14 are unbeaten over hurdles and all but a handful have considerable scope to improve their form to date.
Despite attracting its biggest field for decades, however, the market revolves around Hermes Allen, who finished nine lengths clear of his field in a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November and is priced up at around 5-4 to give Paul Nicholls a third Challow success in a row.
That form – in a race where the favourite disappointed – puts Hermes Allen top of the ratings, but only just, and Timeform’s numbers suggest five rivals are within 5lb of the favourite. That implies in turn that there will be solid each-way alternatives further down the list and at the early prices, You Wear It Well (3.00) stands out at odds of around 25-1.
Jamie Snowden’s mare gets 7lb from the favourite, is unbeaten in two starts over timber to date and sauntered 22 lengths clear of her field at Hexham last time. Gavin Sheehan was easing off for much of the home straight but You Wear It Well still stopped the clock in a useful time and she is bred to appreciate the step up in trip.
Lingfield Park
11.50 Maysong 12.20 Gwendolina 12.55 Victory House 1.30 Vision Of Hope 2.05 Alcazan 2.40 Sayifyouwill 3.15 Nubough
Warwick
11.55 Lucky Bounce 12.25 Kateira 1.00 School For Scandal 1.35 Langley Hundred 2.10 Gwencily Berbas 2.45 Generous Day 3.20 Masaccio
Uttoxeter
12.03 Solar Sovereign 12.33 Telhimlisten 1.08 Secret Trix 1.43 Rob Royal 2.18 Queen Annie 2.53 Lydford Lad 3.28 Art Decco
Newbury
12.10 Grivetana 12.40 Jet Powered 1.15 Gallic Geordie 1.50 Soaring Glory (nb) 2.25 Valsheda 3.00 You Wear It Well (nap) 3.35 Malinello
Newbury 1.15 Last year’s winner, Gallic Geordie, was running well before a fall three out at Lingfield last time and has probably been steering towards this race for some time.
Lingfield 1.30 William Buick is an eye-catching booking for Vision Of Hope, who improved for a step up in trip on her handicap debut.
Warwick 1.35 Langley Hundred has struck up a productive partnership with conditional rider Elizabeth Gale and a swift hat-trick beckons.
Newbury 1.50 Soaring Glory did not take to chasing but has a solid chance at around 10-1 back over hurdles based on his close fifth in the Betfair Hurdle in February.
Warwick 2.10 First-time blinkers and a drop in grade could make the difference for Gwencily Berbas after a solid run last time.
Lingfield 2.40 Sayifyouwill is the outsider in the early betting but has five career wins on Polytrack and is a contender if the return to Lingfield rekindles her best form.
Newbury 2.25 Few to dismiss easily in a strong renewal of the Mandarin, but the lightly raced Valsheda could go well at around 14-1 on debut for Warren Greatrex.
Martin caps wild week with 200-1 winner
Just three days after winning the Welsh National with The Two Amigos, trainer Nicky Martin was celebrating again when the 200-1 chance Inspiratrice ran out victorious at Taunton. Heading into Christmas Martin had only trained two winners this season, but she will not be forgetting this festive period in a hurry.
With her stable stalwart providing her with the biggest success of her career at Chepstow on Tuesday, Inspiratrice and Sean Bowen were surprisingly friendless in the market. The three-year-old filly had shown precious little in two previous starts but dropped right out by Bowen, she steadily moved into contention before pulling clear of Fourofakind to win the Alne Park Stud Juvenile Hurdle by four and a half lengths. When asked if she thought Inspiratrice would win, Martin replied: “In a word, no.” PA
