Four spring festival talking points to emerge from the weekend action

With the spring festivals fast approaching, we discuss some of the key talking points from the action this weekend, including emerging contenders for the Champion and Stayers' Hurdles and a form boost for some leading Triumph Hurdle hopefuls.

Did we see the Champion Hurdle winner on Saturday?

Cilaos Emery needs to be supplemented for the Champion Hurdle but there is every indication he will be after running out a nine-and-a-half length winner over Darasso at Gowran Park on Saturday.

Willie Mullins has a depleted squad of horses for the Champion Hurdle after Saldier and Klassical Dream were ruled out but Cilaos Emery may hold the key to the day one festival highlight for the Mullins yard.

The eight-year-old returned to hurdles for the first time since December 2017 in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle and won comfortably under Paul Townend.

Watch Cilaos Emery enter the Champion Hurdle picture at Gowran

Mullins described him as very impressive and bookmakers seemed to agree, with a best-priced 8-1 available for the Champion Hurdle.

Cilaos Emery was no slouch over hurdles as a novice, with a Grade 1 victory at Punchestown under his belt, and looked to benefit for a return to the smaller obstacles.

With the Champion Hurdle field looking weaker than usual, he is certainly one to consider.

Could Emitom throw down a challenge to Paisley Park?

Emitom was cut to 12-1 with Betfair Sportsbook on Saturday after winning the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle by an easy eight lengths.

Emitom winning at Haydock under Gavin SheehanCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Warren Greatrex's rising star has never faced Paisley Park, who is the 8-11 favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle, but Emitom could throw down a fresh challenge to Emma Lavelle's charge.

Look back on Emitom's Rendlesham victory

Emitom was well-beaten on his seasonal reappearance but if you discard that performance he has six wins from seven races under rules, and was only beaten three lengths by Champ in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last season.

With youth on his side and further improvement expected, Emitom could be the surprise package the division has been crying out for.

Form boost for Triumph hopefuls Goshen and Allmankind

The Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday was expected to prove a key indicator for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, but arguably more was learnt from the 2m3½f handicap hurdle at Ascot.

With Gary Moore taking Goshen out of the Victor Ludorum due to weather concerns, the two market-leading Triumph Hurdle contenders are now heading straight to Cheltenham. That left the door open for a potential contender to stake their claim for the Grade 1 at the weekend.

Sir Psycho was backed into evens in the Victor Ludorum and justified favouritism by powering to an eight-and-a-half length win over Rockadenn. However, the Paul Nicholls-trained four year old has not attracted a great deal of attention in the Triumph Hurdle market, with 25-1 still available.

Sir Psycho winning easily at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Instead it was Nordano’s 16-length demolition at Ascot that raised a few eyebrows. The 8-1 shot was running off a mark of 127 after his last two appearances saw him finish 18 lengths behind Allmankind in December and 11 lengths behind Goshen last month.

Watch Nordano boost the form of Allmankind and Goshen at Ascot

One would expect Nordano to get a significant hike in the weights after his performance on Saturday, acting as a nice boost to the form book of Allmankind and Goshen.

Grand National contenders in action

A number of Grand National contenders were in action this weekend, just days after the weights were revealed on Tuesday.

Tiger Roll made his highly anticipated seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday – a race he won at 25-1 last year – and travelled well into the race before finishing fifth, with no impression made on the winner.

It will go down as a passed fitness test for the ten-year-old – left generally unchanged at 5-1 for the National – and he will next be seen in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham. Magic Of Light, available at 20-1 for the National, finished a lacklustre last of eight in the Boyne Hurdle.

Cast your eye over the Boyne Hurdle at Navan

Smooth Stepper won the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock, defeating some of the leading players for the Aintree showpiece in the process. However, he is not entered for the Grand National itself.

Ballyoptic is a best-priced 28-1 for the Grand National after landing the Keltbray Swinley Chase Handicap at Ascot. However, his Aintree credentials are not obvious as he has fallen twice from three attempts around the Grand National course although he did complete last time in the Becher Chase.

Ramses De Teillee justified odds-on favouritism in the Grade 2 novice hurdle at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Ramses De Teillee stayed on strongly to defeat Kalooki by four lengths in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock. The eight-year-old was pulled up in the Grand National last year after David Noonan’s reins snapped but he looks an improving sort and is attractively priced at 40-1.

Did you know you can bet via the Racing Post mobile app/website? Simply sign in with your favourite bookmaker via the Accounts button and then bet direct from our racecards