Runner-by-runner guide to the Betway Challow Novices' Hurdle

Denman, Large Action, Bonzanza Boy and Bindaree are some of the mighty names adorning the roll of honour from the first serious staying novice hurdle prize of the season, with others such as Diamond Harry, King’s Road and Fingal Bay also going on to bigger and better things.

So even if there have not been brilliant winners every year, the pressure is cranked up for another interesting field of young bucks bidding to use this Grade One prize as a launchpad for the future.

Here’s a guide to all seven runners:

Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Age: 6

General Odds: 11-8

Got onlookers quite excited when proving to be a handicap snip over course and distance this month, adding to effortless victories at Perth and Warwick back in the spring.

Raised 11lb for that, making him comfortably the highest-rated contender in the field.

He is certainly an exciting prospect but is up against some equally promising sorts open to further improvement and whilst deserving of likely favouritism, his odds are too skinny to merit an investment from this writer.

Trainer: Tom Lacey

Age: 5

General odds: 9-2

Had a busy time of it in bumpers, enhancing his credentials as a hurdling prospect with an eye-catching second to Portrush Ted at Aintree, and his career over timber has panned out as such to date.

The form of both wins at Chepstow, and over course and distance under a penalty in an often-informative event here, stand up to scrutiny with Newbury runner-up Mr Pumblechook (admittedly at prohibitive odds) helping his cause by cantering home at Plumpton recently.

Should thrive in a better race and very much considered.

Horse: BREWIN’UPASTORM

Trainer: Olly Murphy

Age: 5

General odds: 5-1

Cost an astronomical £250,000 after winning his only Irish point in the spring of 2017 and comes from quite a good family of chasers.

His young trainer has been saying all the right things about him and it has been justified - his Hereford bumper victory a year ago makes fine reading as runner-up Portrush Ted won the Grade Two at Aintree from Saturday’s rival Kateson.

A subsequent fourth at Newbury was a shade disappointing but made up for it on a tidy hurdling debut at Huntingdon.

Steps up in trip here, but it shouldn’t pose a problem.

Trainer: Fergal O’Brien

Age: 6

General odds: 6-1

Campaigned ambitiously last season, if not without some justification through efforts such as the fourth behind Lalor at Aintree.

There was confidence behind his reappearance in the Persian War at Chepstow, only for him to suffer a heavy early fall, before he came good in a Grade Two event at the Cheltenham November meeting.

He is certainly worthy of his place in the line-up, but that last event did not have the strength of this one and he just might find a couple too good.

Horse: GETAWAY TRUMP

Trainer: Paul Nicholls

Age: 5

General odds: 7-1

Quite experienced in Irish point-to-point’s and began his career with the former champion trainer in fairly low-key style in bumpers and novice hurdles.

The breakthrough came when he won comfortably at Plumpton and his next appearance, at Exeter, was even better.

The Paul Nicholls yard is in such sparkling form at present and this fellow epitomises it, so it is notable that he is pitched quickly into the highest company. Dangerous to discount.

Horse:ALSA MIX

Trainer: Alan King

Age: 6

General odds: 8-1

Has done absolutely nothing wrong in four starts to date, not only landing an Irish point but a bumper and two hurdles, the latest when coping with heavy ground in a Grade Two event at Sandown.

She has now demonstrated her versatility regarding ground and distances, but the question is whether she is quite good enough, given the Sandown event was probably not the strongest of renewals.

Passed over on this occasion but will undoubtedly have other days.

Horse: NESTOR PARK

Trainer: Ben Pauling

Age: 5

General odds: 14-1

This race heralded Ben Pauling’s breakthrough into the big league with Barters Hill three years ago and there is no doubt that some thought he will have gone into his participation here.

The five-year-old looked a star in the making in winning an Ascot bumper but could never quite hit those heights again and was too fresh on his comeback at Cheltenham.

Looked a different horse in winning well at Warwick but this might be a little too much too soon.

Essentially a gathering of future chasers chalking up some work experience over hurdles, yet an event worthy of its status given the time of year featuring a handful of unknown quantities.

Champ was always likely to be a name to conjure with, given his name and top connections allied with progressive form, and many will consider him a solution to alleviating some of those Christmas expenses.

In a race in which many are capable of taking that big leap forward, it is hard to be too dogmatic but several jump out at more generous prices and course and distance scorer KATESON is selected over Brewin’Upastorm.