Who will land the Challow Hurdle? We assess the main contenders at Newbury

The ITV cameras roll into Newbury on Saturday as the Christmas Racing Festival continues with five races in Berkshire, headlined by the Grade 1 Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle (3.00).

It's one of the highlights of the season at the track and in recent years the race has produced top-class names such as Champ, Thyme Hill, Stage Star and this year's King George hero Bravemansgame.

Here we assess the main contenders for this year's Grade 1 contest.

Hermes Allen

Hurdles form: 11

Strengths Paul Nicholls has won this Grade 1 for the last two years with Bravemansgame and Stage Star. It's a race he targets so expect Hermes Allen to have a serious chance. A 3m point-to-point winner, the lightly raced five-year-old is unbeaten in two starts under rules and easily catered for some smart rivals when winning in Graded company at Cheltenham in November. He raced exuberantly there so should be suited by this slight drop in trip.

Hermes Allen: favourite for the Challow Novices' HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Weaknesses It remains to be seen how strong the form of his Cheltenham win is, with the favourite Hubrisko seemingly disappointing in behind. Grade 1 company awaits and this will be his hardest task to date against 13 other rivals.

Odds Evens

What they say Paul Nicholls, trainer: "It's a tough-looking race and the ground will probably be quite a bit softer than it was for his last two runs, but he did run on soft in his point-to-points, so it's exciting.

"It's a competitive, proper race, which is great for the course. Mid-season, right trip – that's probably why there are lots of runners. Hermes Allen is the highest rated so far but it's quite an open division, there are lots of nice horses and it's going to be a good race."

Joyeux Machin

Hurdles form: 31

Strengths He came on for his seasonal reappearance when winning by five lengths at Fairyhouse earlier this month and he had to face 17 others that day, so he's familiar with big fields and could relish what Newbury has to offer on Saturday.

Weaknesses He was pulled up on his only start in Britain which came in the Champion Bumper last season. He's also stepping up in Grade and in trip, so some of his opponents could have the edge over him.

Odds 5-1

What they say James Nolan, assistant trainer (in December): "We always thought he was a good horse and he loves nice ground. We'll see about Christmas or about Naas in January, we have to step up in grade now."

Introducing the ITV Racing Christmas Festival

The ITV Racing Christmas Festival features six days of top-class action on the channel from 12 different tracks in Britain and Ireland between December 26 and January 1.

Some 41 live races will be shown in all, including eight Grade 1s such as the King George VI Chase, with the Welsh Grand National and Cheltenham's New Year's Day card among the big-race highlights across a spectacular six days of racing on terrestrial television across the festive period.

December 31
Newbury, Warwick and Lingfield

January 1
Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Tramore

Vicki Vale

Hurdles form: 1

Strengths She won with ease on her debut at Hereford in November and handled the good to soft ground a lot better than her rivals. She's from the same family as Grade 1 winner Muirhead and looks to have plenty of potential going forward.

Weaknesses Vicki Vale has only ran once under rules and this test will see her come up against others with a lot more experience.

Odds 13-2

What they say Dan Skelton, trainer: "She's in really good form and I'm really happy with her. She's come on from her first run, but this is a massive step up in grade.

"We took West Balboa to this race after one run last year for the same owners and I think she's definitely got a chance. We're by no means underestimating how big of a step up this is."

Crambo

Hurdles form: 1

Strengths He is in three runs and made a solid reappearance on his first start over hurdles at Ascot in November. He jumped professionally there and stayed on dourly, so looks a solid candidate for this race. He is also proven over slightly shorter than this trip so has a lot in his favour.

Weaknesses Connections are pitting him into Graded company after just one run over hurdles so expect him to improve as the season goes on.

Odds 10-1

What they say Fergal O'Brien, trainer: "He's in good form and won very well at Ascot. It would've been more ideal to go for a Grade 2, but there wasn't anything around on the nice ground as the frost and snow came, so we'll take our chance.

"We could probably do with a bit more rain, it'd be lovely if it was proper soft ground which is what he really loves but fingers crossed he can go well. I think the step up in trip is what he wants and he's done nothing wrong in his career so far. He's three from three and we're looking forward to getting him out again."

Coral Challow Hurdle (Newbury, December 31)

Coral: 11-10 Hermes Allen, 7 Joyeux Machin, 9 Vicki Vale, 12 Crambo, 16 Marble Sands, 18 Passing Well, 20 bar

2022 ITV Racing Christmas Festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
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• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
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'It's a proper race' - Hermes Allen ready for Challow Hurdle challenge

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