Six last-time-out winners bid to join See More Business and Inglis Drever on the Winter Novices' Hurdle roll of honour

This race has a rich history, with top-class performers like See More Business, Inglis Drever and Neptune Collonges on the roll of honour, so could there be another Gold Cup, Stayers’ Hurdle or Grand National winner among this year’s line-up? You clearly couldn’t rule it out.

Paul Nicholls, who was responsible for See More Business and Neptune Collonges, is seeking a sixth victory in the race with Quebecois. The five-year-old appears to be held in the highest regard and showed why when bolting up by eight lengths on his hurdling debut at Chepstow in October.

Nicholls won that same race with Stage Star, who went on to land the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas, and that event might also be on the agenda for Quebecois.

Dan Skelton saddled Juventus De Brion to finish second behind Quebecois at Chepstow and therefore has a line through which to judge him. This time Skelton takes aim at the Nicholls-trained budding star with a potential one of his own in Pony Soprano.

Skelton won this last season with Deafening Silence, who came into the race with exactly the same form figures of 31 by his name and his victory was also achieved at Exeter, where Pony Soprano broke his hurdling maiden in October, albeit in a different event.

Nicky Henderson won this contest twice in four years from 2014 to 2017 and runs Kingston Pride, who sets the standard on Racing Post Ratings. Add in Admiral Stewart, Bill Joyce and Ballytechno, and they complete a field of six who all come into the event on the back of a victory, making the race look as strong as ever.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Admiral Stewart
He's in great order and won very nicely at Ffos Las, where he looked good. He'll improve for going up in trip and this looks a nice place to take a chance. There are some well-regarded horses in there but we like our chap and hopefully he can run a good race.

AJ O'Neill, joint-trainer of Bill Joyce
He did everything that was asked of him at Carlisle. This looks a tough race and there's a good few to look out for but we want to see what he's made of. He's a big, fine horse and the softer ground shouldn't be a problem. He'll power on through it.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Kingston Pride
He’s a nice horse and we like him. It’s a very competitive race, with all six runners winning last time, so it’s a test for him stepping up in grade and on softer ground.

Paul Nicholls: runs Quebecois in the Winter Novices' HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Quebecois
We’ve always liked him and he won impressively at Chepstow. He deserves to take this step up in grade on the back of that.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

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