3.00 2m. 4f. 118yds. 12 Declared. Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £60,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €34,170.00 2nd - €12,822.00 3rd - €6,420.00 4th - €3,198.00 5th - €1,608.00 6th - €804.00
Formscan - Paul Nicholls has landed this for the past two years and looks to hold strong claims for a hat-trick with HERMES ALLEN. The five-year-old gelding has been most impressive on both starts over hurdles, having slammed a decent field in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month, and this has been the plan ever since. Joyeux Machin looks a likely threat having won in cosy style at Fairyhouse earlier this month, suggesting this extra half-mile could bring out further improvement. Vicki Vale never came off the bridle to win at Hereford on her hurdling debut and although this is much tougher, she looked a top prospect in the making on that occasion.