'He's an exciting prospect' - Gary Moore double-handed as stable seeks back-to-back Gerry Feilden victories

Hansard won the Gerry Feilden off top weight last season for Gary Moore, and the stable bids to repeat the feat with the fast-improving Salver this time around.

The four-year-old lost his unbeaten jumps record with a gallant effort in the Triumph when last seen, doing well to hang on for third having made the race a real test in heavy ground from three out.

Triumph runner-up Kargese went on to boost that form when second to Sir Gino at Aintree before winning the juvenile Grade 1 at the Punchestown festival, and a mark of 143 looks workable for Salver on his handicap debut. Fitness is the big unknown after 260 days off.

Nicky Henderson first won this race in 1999 when it still held Grade 2 status and has won it eight times since, including three of the last five. Jeriko Du Reponet and Aston Martini bid to give him a record tenth success.

The former can be forgiven his blowout at the Cheltenham Festival when Henderson's horses were under a cloud. However, the five-year-old has questions to answer after another no-show on his chase debut at Sandown this month having been unruly in the preliminaries.

Aston Martini would probably have won on her reappearance at Bangor without a bad mistake, but there’s a suspicion she would be better suited to a stronger stamina test than this.

Venetia Williams could hardly be in better form and The Famous Five made easy work of a mark of 110 at Bangor when last seen in March. He would have won by further without mistakes at two of the last three hurdles and that form has worked out well, with the second and third winning later in the campaign. The six-year-old is returning from eight months off, but a 10lb rise could underestimate him.
Analysis by Phill Anderson

Is Salver Champion Hurdle class?

Salver will need to be a Champion Hurdle horse to make a winning reappearance under 12 stone.

Officially rated 143 after an exciting first campaign over hurdles which yielded four wins and a Triumph Hurdle third, he looks just the type to make further progress this term and make a splash in strong company when the mud is flying.

His joint-trainer Gary Moore said: “I wanted to run him at Ascot last Saturday but pulled him out because of the ground.

“This is a tough race. It’s a big ask of Salver with 12 stone in such a competitive event, but we’ve got to start somewhere.

“He's not totally ground dependent, but he is better on heavy.”

Moore will also be represented by Ballybentragh, another who is making his seasonal debut.

“He's an exciting prospect too,” added Moore. “It'll be his last run over hurdles before he goes chasing. He’s fit and well. Whether he’s good enough, we’ll have to see.”

What they say

Chris Gordon, trainer of Our Champ
He's on a career-high mark in a very tough race. The ground might have gone against us as he acts well on a slightly better surface. He scrapped all the way to the line at Ascot last time, and there was no fluke about it. I was delighted with him.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Jeriko Du Reponet and Aston Martini
Jeriko Du Reponet is in good form. There are a lack of opportunities over fences so we're bringing him back to hurdles. The conditions of the race should suit, and he was a very high-class novice. Aston Martini was unlucky not to have won at Bangor – she rather chucked it away at the last. We're bringing her out again pretty quick, but she should go well if it’s not too quick.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Liari
He ran very nicely off top weight at Chepstow last month at a time when all of ours were needing their first run. He's taken a good step forward since, and I think he’ll run well.

Harry Derham, trainer of Queens Gamble
The Gerry Feilden has been the plan all along. I'm extremely happy with her and hope the ground continues to dry out. We didn’t get to run her last spring, but I don’t think the break has done her any harm.

Venetia Williams, trainer of The Famous Five
He'll be going chasing shortly, but we'll run him in this quality race first. It'll be competitive, but he won well last time.

Tom Symonds, trainer of Navajo Indy
He has a nice weight and good course form, but he needs to improve on his win at Bangor.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Read the rest of our Saturday previews:

1.54 Newbury: 'She will be happy with everything' - does Nicky Henderson hold the key to this valuable handicap hurdle?

1.55 Fairyhouse: 'She should go very close' - plenty of confidence behind favourite in Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle

2.10 Newcastle: Sir Gino vs Mystical Power - analysis and trainer comments for Fighting Fifth showdown

3.00 Newbury: 'This race has been his target all season' - Broadway Boy set for bold bid in a Coral Gold Cup to savour

3.20 Newcastle: 'His work has been very good - we've got no excuses' - who is confident for the Rehearsal at Newcastle?