Mum's the word as Lizzie Kelly contemplates second Betfair win on Monsieur Lecoq

Lizzie Kelly believes Monsieur Lecoq is ideally equipped for the Betfair Hurdle and has high hopes he can provide her with a second victory in the £155,000 Super Saturday centrepiece at Newbury.

Kelly won Britain's most valuable handicap hurdle three years ago on Agrapart and in hat-trick-seeking Monsieur Lecoq has one of the leading fancies for this year's edition.

A second Betfair Hurdle success would be extra special as Monsieur Lecoq is owned and trained by Kelly's mum Jane Williams, who has been very closely involved in all of the success enjoyed by the Nick Williams stable but holds a licence of her own for the first time this season.

Like Agrapart and most recent winners of the race, Monsieur Lecoq is a novice, having won a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las before beating Our Merlin impressively last month in a handicap on Sandown's Tolworth Hurdle card.

A general 7-1 shot in a market headed by fellow novices Al Dancer and Getaway Trump, he runs off a 5lb lower mark than Agrapart, who was saddled by Nick Williams.

Kelly's previous Betfair Hurdle win came on Agrapart in 2016Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Kelly said: "He's a very progressive type and we're looking forward to seeing him in a tougher race. It looks as if the race ought to suit him and everything he's done, he's done easily enough. He'll need luck in running in a race like the Betfair, but we think he has huge potential. He doesn't need soft ground but clearly handles it.

"He's a little less mature than Agrapart at a similar stage, but you could definitely compare them and both had their prep at the same meeting, where Monsieur Lecoq was also considered for the Tolworth, in which Agrapart finished third."

She added: "Mum bought him, she owns him and trains him. She can't ride him, but she bred the jockey, which is close enough. It would be some first season for her if he won."

A total of 21 horses were declared on Thursday morning for the Betfair Hurdle, including Countister, who has not run since Cheltenham last March yet is fourth favourite at around 10-1.

Henderson, who has won the contest five times, said: "My biggest concern for Countister would be soft ground, but she's very well and has been going great. She hasn't raced since March but there's been only one period – before Christmas – when she was a bit under the weather, and she's in good form again now. She's got a nice weight."

Ruled out of the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Chase on the same card was second favourite Un De Sceaux, who most recently chased home Altior in Sandown's Tingle Creek Chase.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "We've decided not to send Un De Sceaux to Newbury. There isn't a plan for him yet."

In his absence Fox Norton was on Thursday no bigger than 8-11, having been 5-4 on Wednesday morning.

Fox Norton is now odds-on for the Betfair Exchange Chase after Willie Mullins announced Un De Sceaux will not run

His Colin Tizzard stablemate Native River, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, is odds-on for a third victory in the Betfair Denman Chase, in which last year's Gold Cup third Anibale Fly seeks to turn the tables.

The Tony Martin-trained nine-year-old has run only once this season due to ground conditions being too quick.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: "We've been waiting for soft ground for Anibale Fly and it looks as if we'll have it on Saturday. It's a very hot race but time is moving on and it will be great to get him out again.

"He had the one run in the Hilly Way over two miles at Cork in December. We were very keen to run him again but the ground wasn't suitable and he missed Leopardstown at Christmas and also the Irish Gold Cup there on Sunday."

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