Grade Two Premier Novices' Hurdle Guide

The six year old My Drogo looks to be a superb recruit for the yard having made an impressive debut for the yard in a bumper back in October at Cheltenham when a good second.

Skelton decided to send him straight over hurdles and it was a superb decision with him scoring at the first time of asking at Newbury, seeing off the highly touted Flinteur Sacre.

My Drogo was then stepped up to the Grade Two Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle at Ascot in December and in the two mile event that saw the likes of Llandinabo Lad and Soaring Glory, the gelding saw them off in fine style.

That was a very impressive run, with the third that day since going on to land the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury a few weeks ago, franking the form.

My Drogo has been taken out of Cheltenham and will instead head to Aintree in April and this looks a perfect prep run ahead of his bigger targets.

Paul Nicholls only runner in the race is Lucky One who moved over to the yard from Willie Mullins during the summer and although needing to improve is not ruled out.

The six year old son of Derby winner Authorized has had five starts for Nicholls since coming over and having needed his first run of the season at Hereford, has since looked a smart type.

He finished a good second at Uttoxeter over 2m4f on his second start and then used that to get off the mark at the third time of asking at Southwell over two miles by 14 lengths.

Nicholls sent him to Cheltenham next time out in a strong Novice Hurdle in December and he had to settle for third behind Make Me A Believer and Any News, who he takes on again in this one.

Back at two miles last time out the gelding got back to winning ways by 20 lengths at Wincanton, with the second in that race since going out and bolting up.

He does have strong form claims, but stepping up in class could be the worry.

Any News for Neil Mulholland has been his shining light in the jumps sphere this season, being bought to the yard for next to nothing and winning some nice events.

The six year old made is first start for the yard at Exeter in a bumper and he went on to see off a next time out winner by an eased down seven lengths.

Stepped straight over hurdles next time out, he continued his smart form by winning a four runner Maiden Hurdle by 10 lengths.

He was given his toughest test to date last time out at Cheltenham when just narrowly second to Make Me A Believer in a Novices' Hurdle.

Although getting beat it was a smart performance and having seen off Lucky One by 12 lengths, he seems to have his rival covered.

He will have improved for the experience and seems the main danger to the favourite My Drogo.

Donald McCain fields a very exciting runner in this event with Bareback Jack definitely deserving his chance in this company, currently being unbeaten in all four of his races during his career.

The five year old in February 2020 won a 2m4f point to point at Punchestown and was hen bought for £70,000 at Cheltenham a month later.

The gelding made his first start for McCain this season at Musselburgh over two miles and landed a Novices' Hurdle in good style.

He then went to Catterick and backed that up in emphatic style to win by nine lengths and then last time out seeking his hat-trick back at Musselburgh he managed to see off the talented Third Time Lucki in the Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

That was a superb performance and he would not need to improve too much off the back of that run to retain his unbeaten record.

Coming towards the bigger priced runners in the field and the Trevor Hemmings owned Castle Rushen for trainer Nicky Richards is looking to be a big each way player.

The six year old gets the mount of the inform Sean Quinlan which is a positive and if the horse manages to back up the form that he has shown this term then he could cause a big upset.

The gelding made his hurdles debut in October, having ran well last term in bumpers, and he got off the mark at the first time of asking at Ayr.

The son of Fame And Glory went back to Ayr stepping up in trip next time out and kept his winning streak going when landing a Novices Hurdle over 2m3f by 26 lengths.

Dropping back to 2m1f on heavy ground last time out he went down by a nose to Pay The Piper at Carlisle and he will need to bounce back from that in this much better race.

The penultimate runner of the race is the Keith Dalgleish trained Alright Sunshine who has well and truly been thrown in at the deep end for this race.

Having been a highly consistent performer on the flat for the yard over the last few years, getting a rating off 107 at his best, the yard decided to step him over hurdles this season.

He made his debut last month at Kelso over two miles, finishing a good second behind Rockstar Ronnie for Dan Skelton.

Although the step up in trip may help, he looks outclassed off the back of that run in this field and may be best watched when back in easier events.

Do Your Job sits as the outsider of the field heading into the race and the Michael Scudamore trained gelding although fairly consistent does not have the same form as some of these in the field.

Having started over hurdles last term, he gained his first win at the third time of asking on seasonal debut at Ffos Las in heavy ground.

He then went to Ayr over he same trip and backed that up with another win, seeing off the talented Cadzand for Dan Skelton by nine lengths.

The gelding stepped up to Listed company next time out at Haydock and was put in his plce by Llandinabo Lad, who was beat by the favourite My Drogo.

Do Your Job last time out was pitched into the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown again in tricky conditions and although finishing a nice fourth behind winner Metier, the form of that race has not really worked out.

The drying ground seems to be against this horse and he would be a shock winner.