A sitter for Supasundae? The big talking points in the Grade 1 clash

Betway Aintree Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

There may be some debate as to which trip suits Supasundae best, but it is a pleasant dilemma to have.

Winner of this season's Irish Champion Hurdle over two miles, Supasundae is also Grade 1-placed at three, most recently when runner-up to Penhill in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Last season at Aintree Supasundae ran in the Liverpool Hurdle over 3m½f, going down narrowly to Yanworth.

Although connections were already leaning towards splitting the difference this time and going down in trip to 2m4f, the absence of two-time Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air sealed the deal.

Trainer Jessica Harrington said of Supasundae: "He came out of Cheltenham really well and is in great form. It looked the logical race to go for with Buveur D'Air not running and good to soft ground will be perfect for him."

Old favourite The New One back again

It would not be the Aintree Hurdle without The New One, who runs in the race for the fifth time since 2013.

Successful in 2014, the ten-year-old has also finished runner-up (2013) and was third behind Buveur D'Air last year.

Connections rolled the dice at the Cheltenham Festival when trying three miles for the first time in the Stayers' Hurdle, but that plan did not come off with The New One well beaten.

Now he is back in familiar territory, and Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "We're looking forward to this. The Stayers' Hurdle just didn't work on the day. He's by no means over the hill."

No Buveur but Henderson still has a strong hand

A bad scope meant Aintree racegoers have been deprived of the chance to see Buveur D'Air attempt to defend his Aintree Hurdle crown, but Nicky Henderson still has two chances.

My Tent Or Yours may be the oldest runner in the field at 11, but age does not appear to have caught up with him yet and he has been runner-up in this race for the last two seasons.

Aintree regulars: My Tent Or Yours (near side) comes to beat The New One at Cheltenham in DecemberCredit: Mark Cranham

Henderson said: "My Tent Or Yours comes in fresh but unfortunately it keeps raining. I've been very pleased with him in the last ten days. He has a hard task because if you take the form with The New One we were close in the International but we were in receipt of 6lb."

It could be a busy meeting for Henderson's other runner, L'Ami Serge, who was last seen finishing eighth behind Penhill in the Stayers' Hurdle.

"L'Ami Serge is capable of running a big race wherever you run him," Henderson added. "I could have run him in the Melling or the three-mile hurdle. I might even run him again in the three-mile hurdle."

Connections looking to claim some prize-money

The chance to plunder a decent chunk of prize-money has enticed connections of some of the runners at bigger prices to toss their hats into the ring.

Clyne has been running consistently all season, but his efforts have left him in no-man's land in the handicap, so Evan Williams has decided to take the plunge.

"It's a shot to nothing," Williams said. "We're in that terrible category where he's not quite good enough for Graded races but almost too good for handicaps. He's had a great season and if he could nick some prize-money it would be a good day out."

Similar comments apply to Air Horse One, who has placed in Graded company on his last two starts. Trainer Harry Fry said: "He has plenty to find but has been going up in the handicap without winning. We decided we'd run in a smaller field rather than lump top weight in a handicap."

Cyrus Darius won the Top Novices' Hurdle here in 2015 and comes into the race off the back of an emphatic 12-length victory in Kelso's Morebattle Hurdle.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson said: "He's in really good form and will like the ground. He's fresh and well and the trip won't be a problem."

In 2014 Diakali finished third in the race behind The New One, and returns to the course to make his debut for Gary Moore, having left Willie Mullins.

It will be the nine-year-old's first start for nearly a year, and Moore said: "He shows an enormous amount of enthusiasm at home and hopefully he does it on the racecourse."

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