'He's right up there with our best novices' - can Henri The Second come first?

Friday: 2.20 Sandown
Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

This race has produced a slew of Grade 1 performers since 1987, including winners of the Stayers' Hurdle, Gold Cup and Grand National.

Success here usually indicates a penchant for a proper staying test further down the line and outstanding hurdler Inglis Drever was certainly no exception in 2003.

His victory came in between the wins of two Paul Nicholls-trained stars in See More Business (1995) and Neptune Collonges (2005), with the pair making up half of Ditcheat's four successes in the race.

The 13-time champion trainer scored most recently with Enrilo in 2019 and he will be hoping his Listed bumper-winning half-brother Henri The Second can improve on a promising hurdling debut at Chepstow.

Henri The Second: compares favourably with Ditcheat's best novice hurdlersCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Four-year-olds have won three of the last seven runnings and Man At Work is his generation's sole representative this time around. He fell in his only point-to-point but created a favourable impression on his rules debut at Aintree.

The gap to the third-placed Henry's Friend was six and a quarter lengths but that rival receives a 7lb pull at the weights now, so expect him to put in an improved effort.

Their biggest danger could be the proven stayer Maximilian, who gave the 140-rated chaser Dr Kananga 6lb and a comprehensive beating over 2m7f at Bangor last month.

That rival is sure to be much sharper for Saturday's Becher Chase but it was nevertheless a bold effort from Maximilian, who is unbeaten in a point-to-point, two bumpers and two novice hurdles.

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Henri The Second
He's in good shape and taken a step forward since his run at Chepstow, both experience and fitness-wise. He was a bit green jumping and he might have been better if we'd made a bit more use of him. He's right up there with the best of our novices and he's going to keep improving. His half-brother won the race and we're hoping he'll run well.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Henry's Friend
He was carrying a penalty behind Man At Work at Aintree and he needed the race as he took a blow between the last two flights. He's got a rating of 120 but I thought it looked quite an open race so I'd like to think he'll go close.

Chris Gordon, trainer of I'd Like To Know
I had him entered at Newbury but the ground would have been too quick. I want to mind him for chasing next season and it was going to be tough going somewhere with a penalty. He's a lovely big horse and it's nice ground and great prize-money.

David Pipe, trainer of Man At Work
It was a very nice performance at Aintree. He's one we like and obviously he's got to improve again but he seems to have come out of the race well. Hopefully he's a lovely youngster and is going to develop into a nice horse. He's got a very good brain, nothing seems to faze him, which will stand him in good stead.

Maximilian: stayed well when winning at Bangor last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Brian Hughes, rider of Maximilian
He's improved with every run and on paper he's got a great chance. Bangor was a good test and the track and ground should suit. He only does what you ask of him but he feels well at home and looks a million dollars.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Park This One
He's a little dude, all he does is win. The figures aren't quite what some of the others might have achieved but he's not done much wrong. He's a tough, hardy individual. I think he's improved and he deserves a crack at it.

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