Much to look forward to in 'Gerry Feilden'

Trainer Oliver Sherwood believes Puffin Billy has made further progress in the jumping department ahead of his return in the bet365 Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury on Thursday.

One of last season's better novices, the five-year-old met with defeat to Melodic Rendezvous at Exeter before a respectable fifth-placed finish in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

However, Puffin Billy disappointed back at Cheltenham a month later and is on something of a retrieval mission this season.

Sherwood had the option of saving him for the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday but has instead decided to take the handicap route in this Listed race, registered as the Gerry Feilden.

"We expected a hot little race for the money but I'm surprised so many have dropped out, to be honest," said the Berkshire-based handler.

"For a race of this nature I think eight runners is a pretty small field - it's usually double figures. They are all entitled to be there, though.

"It will be good to get him going. We've done a lot of talking about him so it will be nice to finally get him back in action. I went to Newbury to walk the track on Tuesday and I think it will be dead, tiring ground, but we won't be using that as an excuse.

"A good horse should be able to go on anything, so they say. He's schooled great, his jumping has really come on."

One of his rivals is the Brian Ellison-trained Fleet Dawn, last seen winning a valuable grassroots final at Haydock in March.

"He's going to go novice chasing after this," said Ellison. "He's really strengthened up and is now a big, powerful horse. He's much stronger.

"This looked a good race for him to start back in but I expect he'll come on a good bit for it. I can't wait for him to go chasing, really, but this is a nice pot and quite a lot (of horses) came out."

Nicky Henderson's Chatterbox, fourth behind The New One in the Neptune at Cheltenham in March, makes his reappearance along with the Paul Nicholls-trained Irish Saint.

Gary Moore's Chris Pea Green and the David O'Meara-trained Ifandbutwhynot both bring respectable form to the table.

A fascinating contender is Jonjo O'Neill's Get Back In Line, having just his third start, with Tom George's mercurial Lordofthehouse making up the field.