Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle - Analysis

The Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle, run for the first time at last year's Festival, has this year attracted 114 entries including 36 from Ireland and four from France.

The inaugural running of the contest fell to France, in the shape of the Francois Doumen-trained Moulin Riche. Kasbah Bliss, a winner in Listed company at Auteuil in November and subsequently placed in his next three starts, all in Graded company, could represent the trainer in this year's renewal.

Doumen also has two other possibles, in the shape of Innox, better known as a chaser and successful in the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in November, and Desert Jim, while Zaiyad, a Grade Three winner on heavy ground at Enghien, is entered for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.

Denman, a mightily impressive 21-length winner of the Grade One Challow Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, is one of four entries from the Paul Nicholls stable, who also include Grade Two scorer Be Be King, while Jonjo O'Neill's Black Jack Ketchum is unbeaten in five starts, and was last seen at Cheltenham in December when taking a Grade Two contest sponsored by Brit Insurance by two lengths from Gungadu.

The pick of Martin Pipe's four entries could be Magnifico, unbeaten in both starts so far for the trainer, Alan King could saddle Ben's Turn, yet to be beaten in four races, and Hard Act To Follow, three from three following a victory at Carlisle on heavy ground on January 14, could represent Howard Johnson.

Nicky Nenderson's Blue Shark, a winner on his British debut in a Grade One hurdle at Chepstow, has an alternative engagement in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, over a mile shorter trip, while According To John, trained in Cumbria by Nicky Richards, looks a thorough stayer judged on his two wins from two runs this season.

Henrietta Knight's Glasker Mill looks to be progressing well and has won on his last two starts over hurdles, Ferdy Murphy's Nine De Sivola completed a hat-trick at Warwick, while Dunsfold Duke, trained by Peter Winkworth, looked a decent prospect when winning by 12 lengths on his hurdling debut at Plumpton earlier in the month.

Victor Dartnall will be hoping Karanja behaves better than last year if he runs at The Festival, having unseated his jockey Nina Carberry at the start before the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Of the Irish-trained entries, Mags Mullins' Travino took the Grade One Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan in December, beating fellow entrants Mossbank and Powerstation, while Noel Meade's Toofarback won a Grade Two hurdle race at Naas on his latest start earlier this month.