'He goes there with a great chance' - The Yellow Clay and Final Demand lock horns again in Champion Novice Hurdle

This rates a fascinating duel between two hugely talented novices in The Yellow Clay and Final Demand, who both chased home The New Lion in the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Many thought The Yellow Clay was a stayer in the making when he muscled up the Naas run-in in testing conditions to land the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas in January, but his runner-up effort at Cheltenham confirmed he is in no way short of gears and acts with aplomb on decent ground.

On the other hand, Final Demand's repertoire is probably more stamina-oriented as he travelled powerfully to dispute with The Yellow Clay turning for home, but never had the required turn of foot to match his two rivals. He stuck to his job but couldn't quicken and was left behind to the tune of nearly five lengths back in third.

A slightly shorter trip on lively ground at Punchestown doesn't present any compelling argument as to why he can turn around that form with The Yellow Clay, leaving the Gordon Elliott-trained star novice as the clear one to beat and any price north of 11-8 isn't a bad one.

Funiculi Funicula could never land a blow in the Supreme but relished the step up to 2m4f at Aintree when beaten just over a length into third by Honesty Policy, who advertised the form well with another good effort behind Jasmin De Vaux on Wednesday.

Funiculi Funicula (white cap): finished third in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

He did particularly well given a scruffy jump at the third-last curbed his momentum in a slowly run race, but he's probably a level below the front two.

The Colm Murphy-trained Lovely Hurling could be the fly in the ointment after landing a Wexford bumper and a Naas maiden hurdle without coming off the bridle. The form of his last success is working out quite well and while this is a huge step up, he could well be up to it.

Mr Percy showed a splendid turn of foot to land Grade 2 honours at Fairyhouse, beating a good yardstick in Fleur In The Park. He's in with a chance but his jumping has been a bit hit and miss.

Of the two British contenders, Tripoli Flyer failed to deliver on expectations when a well-beaten sixth in Grade 1 company at Aintree. The step up in trip shouldn't inconvenience him, but he requires a leap of faith after his latest display, albeit going right-handed should suit better.

Queensbury Boy finished an excellent second to Wingmen in a bumper at this meeting last year and has scored twice over hurdles in good style since, but this is a far sterner examination.

What they say

Rachael Blackmore, jockey of Belloccio
He's a Royal Ascot winner and won his maiden hurdle on his first run for Willie [Mullins] at Punchestown last May, and he ran well last time at Fairyhouse to finish third behind Tuesday's Champion Novice Hurdle winner Irancy. He's stepping up in trip but he stays well on the Flat, so hopefully he can run a good race.

Colm Murphy, trainer of Lovely Hurling
We're happy with him and he's in good form. It's a massive step up but we're hoping he can run a nice race. He's never galloped on this type of ground, so it's a bit of an unknown.

Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, trainer of Final Demand
Final Demand ran well at Cheltenham in what was probably the best novice hurdle of the week. We might be more positive on him here. We're hoping he can get back to winning ways and are really looking forward to him next season over three miles and over fences.

Harry Derham, trainer of Queensbury Boy
Obviously this is a big step up in grade. He's won two novice hurdles with his head in his chest. Dry ground will be no problem and he's a really classy horse. Where he compares to the top two-and-a-half-mile novices is hard to know, but we think he's worthy of his place. At an each-way price, I think he'll run a very respectable race.

Harry Derham: runs Queensbury Boy at PunchestownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gordon Elliott, trainer of The Yellow Clay
He's great. I'm very happy. He's doing everything right all season and has just kept on improving. He was beaten by a very good horse at Cheltenham and hopefully he can perform to that level again. He goes there with a great chance.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Tripoli Flyer
He has to bounce back from a very disappointing run at Aintree. We didn't find any cause for that, he just never turned up and was beaten after he jumped two hurdles. Hopefully going back right-handed and easier ground will suit. We've upped him in trip, so that hopefully he can get into a better rhythm.

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