Confirmed runners and riders for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday

Grade 1 winner Metier was a notable absentee as a final field of 14 was declared for the Betfair Hurdle (3.35) at Newbury on Saturday.

Britain's richest handicap hurdle has attracted its joint-lowest field since Betfair took over the sponsorship in 2012, with 14 lining up in 2019 when the race was rescheduled at Ascot.

Last year's Tolworth Hurdle winner Metier has shown his best form on heavy going, including when winning a £100,000 handicap hurdle at Lingfield last month, and connections have deemed good to soft conditions at Newbury unsuitable.

3.35 Newbury Saturday: Betfair Hurdle racecard and betting

Trainer Harry Fry, who has declared Boothill, said: "On balance, Metier needs really soft conditions to see him at his best and there are some good options coming up for him, like the Morebattle Hurdle and even the Imperial Cup.

"To run on faster ground, we'd have to step him up in trip and just three weeks after winning at Lingfield, we've opted to keep our powder dry.

"We're still represented by Boothill and hope he has a very good chance. We perhaps should have stuck to hurdles with him as he didn't jump well over fences at Exeter and came back a bit sore.

"We got him right after Christmas and are reverting back to the smaller obstacles. He's unexposed."

Paul Nicholls, who has not had any runners since last Saturday due to the stable's loss of form, has declared Knappers Hill, while fellow leading contenders Jpr One, Broomfield Burg and Soaring Glory all stand their ground.

On the same Newbury card, Nicholls has split two of his big guns with Clan Des Obeaux taking on Royale Pagaille in the five-runner Betfair Denman Chase (2.25) and Bravemansgame declared for the novice handicap chase (1.15).

In the other big race at Newbury, there was a field of five declared for the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (3.00) – Sceau Royal, Editeur du Gite, Sky Pirate, Funambule Sivola and Hitman.

However, that is now down to four as Editeur du Gite, who was seeking a third win on the spin and perhaps targeting a run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, won't run this weekend.

Trainer Gary Moore said on Thursday: "Editeur Du Gite doesn’t run in the Game Spirit. We just got a bad blood analysis back and he can’t run.

"He was going good, but I can’t run him. I’m gutted, because he did have a live chance in it.

"We have got enough time to get him right for the Champion Chase, but we don’t know if he is good enough to go there. There is no point running Saturday when he is half-cocked."

At Warwick, leading Arkle contenders Edwardstone and Third Time Lucki clash in the Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices' Chase (2.05) with Brave Seasca and For Pleasure completing the line-up.

Betfair Hurdle

Betfair: 9-2 Jpr One, 5-1 Broomfield Burg, 6-1 Knappers Hill, 13-2 Soaring Glory, 8-1 Boothill, 9-1 Tritonic, Fifty Ball, 10-1 Jetoile, I Like To Move It, 14-1 First Street, 20-1 bar

Betfair Hurdle runners and riders

Soaring Glory Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Tritonic Adrian Heskin
Glory And FortuneStan Sheppard
First StreetJames Bowen
I Like To Move ItSam Twiston-Davies
Knappers HillHarry Cobden
BoothillSean Bowen
Broomfield BurgNico de Boinville
JetoileLorcan Williams
Fifty BallJoshua Moore
Jpr OneBrendan Powell
HowdyalikemenowAdam Wedge
Royaume UniJamie Moore
Lord BaddesleyNick Scholfield

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