A total of 20 horses go forward for Britain’s richest handicap hurdle, the £155,000 Grade Three Betfair Hurdle (3.35pm), the highlight of Betfair Super Saturday at Newbury on Saturday, February 11.

Owner J P McManus is responsible for both of Betfair’s 5/1 joint-favourites in the extended two-mile contest – Consul de Thaix (Nicky Henderson, 11st 1lb) and Movewiththetimes (Paul Nicholls, 10st 11lb).

Consul de Thaix is trying to make it third time lucky this season after chasing home stable companion Brain Power in valuable handicap hurdles at Sandown Park and Ascot, while Movewiththetimes is one of the least exposed contenders, having won two of his three starts in novice company. McManus, who saw his famous colours carried to success in the Betfair Hurdle by Get Me Out Of Here (2010) and My Tent Or Yours (2013), could also be represented by De Names Escapes Me (Noel Meade IRE, 11st, 16/1) and Hargam (Nicky Henderson, 11st 7lb, 20/1).

Champion Jump trainer Nicholls has also left in Zubayr (11st 2lb, 12/1), not seen out since finishing fifth at Sandown Park in a Listed handicap hurdle in early December.

Song Light (10st 8lb, 12/1) brings strong handicap form to the table, having finished a close third behind North Hill Harvey in G3 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in November.

The seven-year-old was also fifth behind Jolly’s Cracked It and Sternrubin in last season’s G3 Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.

Trainer Seamus Mullins, who trains north of Salisbury, said today: “Song Light is fit, well and raring to go.

“We have had the Betfair Hurdle in mind for some time. He was due to go to Ascot before Christmas but had to miss that. We decided to wait as there wasn’t much else suitable for him.

“I thought his run at Cheltenham was very good. He travelled well but just wasn’t on the right stride at the last. He does seem to enjoy Cheltenham as he has been placed there before.

“He is a horse who is getting it together over hurdles. I think he can run a big race on Saturday. My only concern would be really testing or heavy ground as he didn’t run well on that sort of ground at Sandown last year. Soft or good to soft ground will be fine.”

Ballyandy (Nigel Twiston-Davies, 10st 10lb, 13/2) landed the G1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last season but is winless in three starts over hurdles this season. He has twice finished behind the very promising Moon Racer and is a fascinating contender on his handicap debut. The six-year-old could be joined by stable companion Ballyhill (10st 11lb, 33/1).

Another very interesting contender off his current handicap rating is Clyne (Evan Williams, 11st 4lb, 7/1), who on his latest appearance came within a length of defeating The New One in the G2 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park on January 21.

William H Bonney (Alan King, 10st 12lb, 9/1) recorded an impressive victory last time out at Cheltenham on January 28, for which he collected a five-pound penalty, while Wait For Me (Philip Hobbs, 10st 13lb, 14/1) finished fifth in the same contest.

Other leading contenders include Beltor (Robert Stephens, 10st 10lb, 16/1), a very useful novice two seasons who has hinted at a return to form during the current campaign, top-weight Renneti (Willie Mullins IRE, 11st 12lb, 16/1) and Krugermac (9st 8lb, 16/1), who represents triple Betfair Hurdle-winning trainer Gary Moore.

Betfair Hurdle, Betfair bet: 5/1 Consul de Thaix, Movewiththetimes; 13/2 Ballyandy; 7/1 Clyne; 9/1 William H Bonney; 12/1 Song Light, Zubayr; 14/1 Wait For Me; 16/1 Beltor, De Name Escapes Me, Krugermac, Renneti; 20/1 Hargam, Veinard; 25/1 Eddiemaurice; 33/1 Ballyhill, Gassin Golf, Kayf Blanco; 40/1 Boite; 50/1 Kapstadt EW Terms: 1/4 Odds | 4 Places

Betfair Super Saturday offers a feast of top-quality action. In addition to the Betfair Hurdle, other highlights include the Grade Two £50,000 Betfair Denman Chase (2.25pm) and the £50,000 Grade Two Betfair Exchange Chase (3.00pm). These two contests have both re-opened for entries until 11.00am tomorrow.

The seven-race card commences at 1.15pm with the Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively At Betfair Novices’ Hurdle (21 entries) and ends at 4.45pm with the Listed Betfair Ready? Bumper (20 entries).

Racegoers will also be treated to parades from retired equine superstars Denman and Sprinter Sacre before racing.

The going at Newbury is currently Soft.

3.35pm £155,000 Betfair Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade 3) 2m 69y

Grade 3 handicap hurdle, £155,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.35pm, Saturday, February 11. For four-year-olds and upwards, two miles and half a furlong (2m 69yds). Penalties: after January 15, a winner of a hurdle 5lb, a winner of two hurdles 8lb, no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed January 10, entries revealed January 11 (54 entries – 1 subsequently scratched, 1 expunged), weights revealed January 18. Scratchings deadline January 24 (41 remained), five-day confirmation stage February 6 (20 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, February 9.

 

Horse	Age	Wgt	Owner	Trainer
RENNETI (FR)	8	11-12	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
HARGAM (FR)	6	11-07	J P McManus	Nicky Henderson
CLYNE	7	11-04	David Williams	Evan Williams
BOITE (IRE)	7	11-03	Mrs T Brown	Warren Greatrex
ZUBAYR (IRE)	5	11-02	Mr P J Vogt	Paul Nicholls
CONSUL DE THAIX (FR)	5	11-01	J P McManus	Nicky Henderson
DE NAME ESCAPES ME (IRE)	7	11-00	J P McManus	Noel Meade IRE
WAIT FOR ME (FR)	7	10-13	Andrew Cohen	Philip Hobbs
WILLIAM H BONNEY	6	10-12 (5lb ex)	Mr & Mrs R Scott	Alan King
KAYF BLANCO	8	10-11	Mrs L Day, H Burdett & G McPherson	Graeme McPherson
BALLYHILL (FR)	6	10-11	S Such & C G Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
MOVEWITHTHETIMES (IRE)	6	10-11	J P McManus	Paul Nicholls
BALLYANDY	6	10-10	Options O Syndicate	Nigel Twiston-Davies
BELTOR	6	10-10	Alison Mossop	Robert Stephens
KAPSTADT (FR)	7	10-10	Anchor Men	Ian Williams
SONG LIGHT	7	10-08	Phoenix Bloodstock	Seamus Mullins
GASSIN GOLF	8	10-08	Will Roseff	Kerry Lee
VEINARD (FR)	8	10-01	T D Howley Jnr/J N O’Brien	Gordon Elliott IRE
EDDIEMAURICE (IRE)	6	10-01	Mel Mathias	John Flint
KRUGERMAC (IRE)	6	9-08	J Hinds	Gary Moore

 

20 five-day confirmations

3 Irish-trained