Hargam heads Betfair Hurdle field

Nicky Henderson has to rely on Hargam giving him a sixth win in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday after being forced to remove Consul De Thaix from the valuable contest.Hargam has been left on topweight after the Willie Mullins-trained Renneti was not among the 16 horses declared. Henderson - successful with Sharpical (1998), Geos (2000 and 2004), Landing Light (2001) and My Tent Or Yours (2013) - ruled Consul De Thaix out of the race on Thursday morning after the five-year-old suffered a setback.The Seven Barrows trainer tweeted: "Consul De Thaix has some inflammation that requires medication so will NOT run in the Betfair Hurdle."Consul De Thaix's owner JP McManus is still well represented, with Hargam, Movewiththetimes, who is with Paul Nicholls, and De Names Escapes Me from Noel Meade's stable in County Meath all featuring in the final field.There is a second Irish challenger in the Gordon Elliott-trained Veinard, while Nicholls has a second string to his bow in Zubayr.Nigel Twiston-Davies is responsible for ante-post favourite Ballyandy and Ballyhill, while Welsh trainer Evan Williams has a leading contender in Clyne.Making up the list are Boite, Wait For Me, William H Bonney, Kayf Blanco, Beltor, Song Light, Gassin Golf and Eddiemaurice.Kapstadt and Krugermac were the other two horses taken out at the 48-hour final declaration stage.