Previous two winners clash with ground back in their favour

QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2 handicap) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

The last two winners of this race clash in this Grade 2, with last year's hero County Hurdle fourth Chesterfield – who was pulled out at Aintree – taking on Ch'Tibello, the 2016 winner, given time to recover from his run in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Beyond The Clouds, a rare jumper for trainer Kevin Ryan, leads the novice brigade, defending his unbeaten record over hurdles with three wins already in Scotland, once at Kelso and twice at Musselburgh.

Interesting contender: Beyond The Clouds, a rare jumps horse for trainer Kevin Ryan, won at Musselburgh last timeCredit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

Nicky Henderson runs three, including possible favourite Verdana Blue, and Claimantakinforgan, who was third behind Beyond The Clouds at Musselburgh before finishing fifth in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

Last year's Fred Winter winner Flying Tiger and the Gordon Elliott-trained County Hurdle seventh Brelade are other notable runners.

Are the last two winners good to go again?

The return of good ground will help the 2016 winner Ch'Tibello's chances, especially as he has top weight in this limited handicap, rated 17lb higher than for his win over Cloudy Dream.

His trainer Dan Skelton and jockey Harry Skelton hit the ground running at the meeting on Friday and the trainer said: "He has got top weight this year which makes it much harder.

"He has taken his Cheltenham run well and it will be nice to get him back on better ground to help his chances."

Chesterfield was taken out due to a self-certificate on Grand National morning when among the favourites for the meeting's closing handicap hurdle but won this race last year in a notably fast time.

Why does Henderson hope it will be fast and furious?

Nicky Henderson is another trainer with a good record at the meeting and happy to see the drying ground for his three contenders.

The champion trainer said: "Claimantakinforgan is a high-class novice and should run well.

"But I've always thought this was the perfect race for Verdana Blue and Charli Parcs as they should love running around a fast track on good ground."

What they say

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Beyond The Clouds
He's in great order and ready for this step up in grade to find out where we are with him.

Alan King, trainer of The Unit
He's switching back from fences as it's too late in the season to be losing his novice status, and he's a good hurdler – he finished third in the Grade 1 at Aintree last season.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Brelade
He ran quite well in the County Hurdle before being beaten on very bad ground at Cork. This looks very competitive but the better ground should help him.

Richard Johnson, rider of I'm A Game Changer
Everyone has been very patient and kept him back before he won well at Ludlow earlier in the month. This is a bit of a step up in class but he’s well in on official ratings and I’d be pretty hopeful of him getting involved. I think he could easily outrun his odds.

Sue Smith, trainer of Midnight Shadow
He ran a good race at Aintree but this is another step up in class. He's a very progressive young horse who hasn't done a lot wrong and will make a lovely chaser next season.

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