Trainer views on the handicap hurdle that opens ITV's coverage

1.50 Newbury

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle | 4yo+ | 2m4f 118yd | ITV/RUK

Court Minstrel, conqueror of last Saturday's big Haydock handicap hurdle winner Sam Spinner, and Air Horse One have been repaid by the handicapper for their audacity.

Court Minstrel therefore has to concede weight all round despite being the oldest and most exposed in the field, looking for his 12th career win after 40 races.

Old Guard won his juvenile hurdle at this meeting three years ago and returns to Newbury for the first time since having won a Greatwood Hurdle two years ago and finished an honourable third to Elgin this year for which he was not raised by the handicapper.

What they say

Evan Williams, trainer of Court Minstrel
He needs them to go hard in front and he got another few pounds in the week after Sam Spinner won last Saturday – we burgled the race off him at Chepstow – but the track and ground will be grand for the old boy - if he finishes in the first six I will be pleased.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Old Guard
He ran very well in the Greatwood staying on strongly and two and a half miles on a flat track will suit him as long as it is not too soon after his last run.

Harry Fry, trainer of Air Horse One
He went up for standing in his stable over the weekend which is always hard to take but the form of his last race at Ascot which Elgin won before winning the Greatwood has worked out well and the third and fifth have won since. I hope he doesn't get beat less than three lengths otherwise I will be very upset. We think the step up in trip will suit him.

Alan King, trainer of Coeur de Lion and Dino Velvet
I reckon Coeur de Lion has 10lb too much but I do think stepping up in trip might bring some improvement and when the ground was so bad at Haydock last week we decided to wait for this. He ran as well as we could have hoped in the Elite where the race conditions were against him. I was happy enough with Dino Velvet's comeback run at Chepstow. He had a slight setback after but seems fine now and he will appreciate this trip.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Remiluc and Vicenzo Mio
They are both up against it but it is good money to have a go at. Remiluc runs well at the track but the handicapper has his measure.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Maestro Royal
We were about to go chasing with him but he ran well at Kempton so we’ve decided to give him one more run over hurdles. It’s a very competitive race but he’ll be there or thereabouts.

Tim Vaughan, trainer of Master Dancer
He came out of his Cheltenham win with a little knock on a joint but is past that now and the trip round Newbury should be fine and we will drop him in again. It is just whether he can handle the big step up the weights.

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