Horse Racing: Lalor favourite for Betfair Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse

The competitive two-mile contest forms part of a seven-race card at Newbury on Saturday, February 10.

Heading the market at 8/1 is Lalor (10st 12lb). A Grade 2 bumper winner at Aintree in April last year, the six-year-old has finished in the first three in a trio of decent novices’ hurdles so far this season, most recently taking second behind Western Ryder at Cheltenham on December 15.

Nicky Henderson has trained a record five winners of the race, taking the honours with My Tent Or Yours (2013), Geos (2004), Landing Light (2001), Geos (2000) and Sharpical (1998).

A quintet of entries from Seven Barrows goes forward, including the mare Kayf Grace (11st 1lb, 10/1), a comfortable winner at Kempton Park over Christmas and Jenkins (11st 4lb, 10/1), who has won his on his latest two appearances, mostly recently taking a G3 handicap hurdle at Ascot last Saturday.

Henderson is also responsible for Verdana Blue (11st 6lb, 20/1), third in a valuable G3 handicap at Ascot on December 23, last season’s G1 Triumph Hurdle sixth Charli Parcs (11st 6lb, 16/1) and Lough Derg Spirit (10st 13lb, 12/1), second in the G2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November.

Another trainer with multiple victories in the contest is Gary Moore, who has saddled three winners, latterly with Violet Dancer in 2015. His two remaining are headed by Knocknanuss (10st 10lb, 14/1), a comfortable winner when last seen at Fontwell on Boxing Day.

Gwafa (Paul Webber, 11st 1lb, 50/1) was a very useful performer in 2016, when he landed novices’ events at Fakenham and Huntingdon before defeating seasoned opposition in the G3 Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May of that year.

Lightly-raced since his Haydock success, the seven-year-old made his first start in 14 months with a Flat outing on the All-Weather at Lingfield Park on Saturday, when he came home sixth in a mile-and-a-half handicap.

Webber commented: “Gwafa had a nice spin at Lingfield and everything has been good with him since then.

“He had a suspensory problem after he ran at Kempton last season, so that is why he had been off the track.

“He probably wants a bit further than a mile and a half these days, especially at a track like Lingfield, so I thought it was a good performance at the weekend and Fran Berry said the horse gave him a good feeling.

“He has been dropped nine pounds over hurdles and he has solid form, so off of 140 on the right day I think he still has a good race in him.

“The issue will be whether the ground will be suitable for him at Newbury. He would need some drier weather, as I wouldn’t want to run him on tacky ground.”

The weights are now headed by Elgin (Alan King, 11st 12lb, 20/1), who has already scooped valuable handicap hurdles at Ascot and Cheltenham this season.

High Bridge (Ben Pauling, 11st 9lb, 14/1) is a real course specialist having won all of his three starts over hurdles at Newbury, including last time out in a Listed contest on December 2.

Three Irish-trained contenders remain engaged, all trained by Willie Mullins – Lagostovegas (11st 8lb, 25/1), Bleu Et Rouge (11st 7lb, 14/1) and Voix De Reve (11st 6lb, 40/1).

Other contenders going forward include smart novice Kalashnikov (Amy Murphy, 11st 2lb, 14/1) and Silver Streak (Evan Williams, 10st 8lb, 16/1), runner-up in G3 company at Ascot last month.

The next acceptance stage for the Betfair Hurdle is at the five-day stage on February 5.

Odds (Betfair): 8/1 Lalor; 10/1 Jenkins, Kayf Grace; 12/1 Lough Derg Spirit; 14/1 High Bridge, Kalashnikov, Knocknanuss, Bleu Et Rouge; 16/1 Charli Parcs, Silver Streak, Lostintranslation; 20/1 Elgin, Verdana Blue, Poppy Kay, Moon Racer, Misterton; 25/1 Pingshou, Waterlord, William H Bonney, Divin Bere, Coeur Blimey, Irish Roe, Spiritofthegames, Cliffs of Dover, Lagostovegas; 33/1 Dame Rose, Project Bluebook, Magic Dancer, Wishfull Dreaming; 40/1 Nietzsche, Master of Irony, Voix Du Reve, Mister Miyagi; 50/1 Gwafa, Zalvados, Chti Balko, Remiluc; 66/1 Maquisard, Man Of Plenty, Birch Hill, Bidourey