Sweet Kiln bids to give Bowe family first Festival success

There are no major surprises among the 13 declared for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, with Sweet Kiln the only Irish runner after Lounaos was taken out.

The Bowes have gone close to Cheltenham Festival glory in the past with Limestone Lad, and their nine-year-old mare faces the former Irish-trained Chomba Womba together with other leading fancies Theatre Girl, Gaspara, Refinement and Labelthou.

There are seven Irish-trained runners among the 19 declared for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle including Uncle Junior, the mount of Ruby Walsh, and the Noel Meade-trained pair Gem Daly and Parsons Pistol.

Carruthers, an impressive winner over this three miles trip at Bangor last month, heads the market while other Irish contenders include Home Hunter (Timmy Murphy), Liskennett (Niall Madden) and Siegemaster (Davy Russell).