12:10 Newbury

Leg 1 Selections: Jeriko Du Reponet, Centara

Trainer Nicky Henderson has had a stranglehold on this race for a number of years and will unleash another exciting prospect in the shape of JERIKO DU REPONET. He has talked up this horse a lot, and, with the market in his favour, a winning hurdle debut is expected.

I would recommend covering Paul Nicholls’ CENTARA though, who was highly-tried in a Grade 2 last time after winning easily on debut at Taunton. He is also an exciting debutant in this sphere.

12:40 Newbury

Leg 2 Selections: Persian Time, Djelo

Nico has opted to ride PERSIAN TIME instead of Russian Ruler, and that is significant. Besides his effort at the Cheltenham Festival when highly-tried in the Ballymore, Nicky Henderson’s charge has a solid record and won his only previous start over this trip. He looks like a major player on his chase/handicap debut.

DJELO is the one to beat, though. He beat a good horse on his chase debut at Aintree, and he’s open to further progress. This is less than a three-week turnaround, but he remains the one to beat.

13:15 Newbury

Leg 3 Selections: Wodhooh, Saisissante

Gordon Elliott’s WODHOOH has taken very well to hurdling, winning all three starts, and has been all the rage in the betting market. She didn't exactly get the job done impressively last time but is open to improvement and should be hard to beat.

SAISISSANTE improved markedly on her hurdle debut seventh at Stratford to score with lots in hand at Ludlow when refitted with blinkers and tongue-tie. Her record when equipped with both reads 2111, and the way she won last time was impressive. I prefer her over Max Of Stars, despite the latter having a good record over hurdles.

13:50 Newbury

Leg 4 Selections: Hermes Allen, Colonel Mustard

HERMES ALLEN won his first three starts over hurdles last term, including an easy win in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle here on New Year’s, which is form that reads well. He returned as a beaten favourite at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals but still ran well in each of those and has undergone wind surgery ahead of his chase debut.

I’m confident he will outclass these if he jumps as well as he did over hurdles, because he is expected to make his mark at the very highest level in this sphere. COLONEL MUSTARD has several in-the-frame efforts in graded company and will be fitter after his comeback run at Down Royal. He is dangerous to rule out with a run under his belt.

14:25 Newbury

Leg 5 Selections: Sail Away, Frero Banbou

Dan Skelton’s SAIL AWAY jumped outstandingly well from the front when dominating his rivals at Ayr when last spotted. He has undergone more wind surgery since then, so if he can return in similar form, this lightly-raced, talented seven-year-old will be hard to pass. Kandoo Kid is really short after being beaten fair and square last time at this course.

FRERO BANBOU ran a good race on his return last year when he finished second in a Grade 3 at Ascot, and that came off a 7Ib higher mark. He was also third in the Grand Annual last year off a mark of 141 and shaped well when third on his return at Aintree three weeks ago. He looks better treated than most of these, so he must be respected.

15:00 Newbury

Leg 6 Selections: Marie’s Rock, Paisley Park 

In the feature race, Nicky Henderson’s MARIE’S ROCK should take a bit of stopping. She’s a dual Grade 1 winner who beat Dashel Drasher on her reappearance in a Grade 2 race at Cheltenham last season and ran a fine race when second in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle last time. She should be hard to beat. 

PAISLEY PARK has seemingly been overlooked, which is strange because he’s proven himself over three miles over hurdles and, in fact, is the only one of the top three in the market to have won over the trip. He is a former winner of the race and pushed Champ very close in this race last year on his return. Age is against him, and he has a penalty to carry, but he is reported to be in great form at home and could again roll back the years in a winnable race.