The staying novice hurdle championship is in its sixth year and the three-mile contest has attracted a classy 91-strong entry, 30 of whom are trained in Ireland, while one hails from Australia.
Tom George has a solid candidate for success in Tell Massini. The unbeaten six-year-old saw off subsequent Grade One winner Reve De Sivola when winning a Grade Two contest at The Open at Cheltenham in November and defied a penalty to defeat the Keith Goldsworthy-trained Kennel Hill in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over the course and distance in December.
Another exciting entry with course form is the Robin Dickin-trained Restless Harry. The six-year-old made all to win the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Hurdle on January 30 by eight lengths.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has engaged four horses. Najaf is a Listed hurdle winner and Grade One placed in his native France, while River D’Or also has a French hurdle win under his belt.
Alan King took this race with Nenuphar Collonges in 2008 and he has entered four of his string, including Fontwell winner Chamirey, while Philip Hobbs has engaged the tough stayer Triggerman and Donald McCain has entered a smart pair in Wymott and Will Be Done, the latter a Grade Two novice chase winner.
Another notable chaser with an entry is the David Pipe-trained Madison Du Berlais, runner-up to Kauto Star in this season’s Grade One King George VI Chase, while Evan Williams has entered Cappa Bleu, victorious in the 2009 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at The Festival. Henry Daly has entered the John Smith’s Grand National hope Possol.
Pipe’s five-strong entry also includes the unbeaten Chartreux as well as Irish point-to-point winners Ardkilly Rebel and Shinrock Hill.
Martin Keighley has engaged the dual Cheltenham winner Wolf Moon, while Queen Poline could represent trainer Lucy Wadham.
The Irish entry is headed by the Paul Nolan-trained Shinrock Paddy who defeated the Willie Mullins-trained Rhyl Accord to win the Grade One Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan in December.
Mullins has entered 12 horses. Quel Esprit and Enterprise Park have Grade Three successes under their belts, while Fionnegas has a Grade One placing to his name and Beroni is smart over hurdles and fences.
The trainer has also engaged dual bumper winners Flat Out, Paul Kristian and Don’t Turn Bach, as well as Arvika Ligeonniere and Killultagh Queen.
Tom Hogan has a classy entry in Premier Victory who has won Grade Three novice hurdles over two miles and three miles this term.
The Edward O’Grady-trained Acapulco is a top Flat recruit and defeated the Eoghan O’Grady-trained The Book Thief at Navan on 27 January.
Berties Dream, trained by Paul Gilligan, was third to Tell Massini at The Open, while the Mouse Morris-trained The Hurl was third to Shinrock Paddy at Navan and then scored over three miles at Fairyhouse on 17 January.
Australian trainer Anthony Cosgriff has entered Gorge who finished fourth in the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown, Australia, in August.
Analysis courtesy of Cheltenham Racecourse
