Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle Analysis

The inaugural running of the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle takes place over three miles at Cheltenham on Friday, March 18 and has attracted 117 entries.

Gloucestershire trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies dominates the entries with eight horses engaged. These include the tough mare Lady Zephyr, a four-time winner already this season, and the unexposed Lord Brock, a good winner at Leicester last time. Twiston-Davies' octet is completed by Ardaghey, Dante's Back, Florida Dream, a full-brother to Florida Pearl and successful on his first two outing this season before disappointing at Kempton, Icy Prospect, Red Georgie and Va Vavoom.

Lady Zephyr's last run was at Warwick on January 15 in the Grade Two Leamington Novices' Hurdle when she found one too good in Howard Johnson's No Refuge, formerly a smart staying handicapper on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. Johnson has also made an entry for the highly-regarded Bewley's Berry who landed an Irish bumper and made a winning debut over hurdles at Hexham before being beaten by Villon at Ayr last time.

There are 40 entries hailing from Ireland, with four from the Willie Mullins yard including Homer Wells, a Grade Two winner at Naas on January 2 and Sunami Storm, successful in two of his last three starts. A very promising Irish contender is the John Carr-trained Killeaney, who has shown significant improvement this season to win his last four starts in handicap company.

Frances Crowley looks to hold a strong hand with three entries including the unbeaten duo of Amalfitano and Gimli's Axe while Dermot Weld also has two entries, the Tasman and the unbeaten Queen Astrid. Other interesting Irish contenders include the Ted Walsh's Southern Vic, a very smooth winner of his two hurdling runs to date, and Oscar Brunel from the Pat Doyle yard and an impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day.

Two of the entries are from France, in the form of Arnaud Chaille-Chaille's Ambobo, a winner of four of his five starts over hurdles in France, most recently in a Listed contest at Enghien on November 5. Francois Doumen could also be represented with Moulin Riche who has winning form over both hurdles and fences in France.

A horse that has shown tremendous improvement this year is the Ian Williams-trained Brewster, successful at both the Open and December meetings at Cheltenham this season before going on to land the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Martin Pipe is well represented with four entries including Celtic Son, victorious on his last three starts including in a competitive handicap at Warwick last time out on January 15. Pipe could also run Inch Pride, a former Irish bumper performer who scored a facile triumph on his British debut at Fontwell, Over The Creek and Nick The Silver.

Paul Nicholls also has a quartet of entries to choose from including the well-touted Blushing Bull, who was a very impressive winner at Chepstow in November before going down by a short-head Miss Fahrenheit. He has subsequently returned to winning ways with a victory at Uttoxeter on January 22. Nicholls other three entries Get My Drift, Ladalko and Reflected Glory.

Other interesting contenders include James Fanshawe's pair of former smart Flat performers, Pole Star and Reveillez, the Ferdy Murphy-trained Basilea Star, winner of his last four starts, Len Lungo's Wild Cane Ridge, a very easy victor on his latest two runs, the Keith Reveley-trained Rambling Minster and Mount Clerigo, from the Victor Dartnall yard.