'It's a huge pot to play for and he's got his ideal conditions' - trainers on their Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle contenders

Nicky Henderson bagged this prize with subsequent Champion Hurdle third Luccia when recording a one-two in this race last year and he’s won this race a record five times, but the Seven Barrows maestro is without a runner for this year’s race.

Dan Skelton, who has won it twice (2013 and 2018) attempts to close the gap on Henderson with Be Aware, who is an unexposed sort who chased home Burdett Road in the Greatwood last time.

He wasn’t ideally positioned in that race, making up a lot of ground having conceded first run to the winner and was forced to switch away from the favoured near rail in the closing stages. Although he’s up 7lb, that looks justified and there has to be a chance he’ll come on for that first run in seven months.

Steel Ally heads the weights after a career-best success at Haydock when allowed to dominate from the front, but he’ll face competition for the lead this time from the Irish raider Impero, who also likes to make the running.

Alan King won this in 2021 with Tritonic and the dual-purpose performer is back for another crack from a mark of 135, 6lb below 2021’s winning mark. He was tailed off when last seen over hurdles at Chepstow and he arrives after a lacklustre effort on the Flat at Kempton, but he’s hard to put a line through, given his best run in this race.

The yard haa slightly stronger claims with Favour And Fortune, who saw off Bialystok in the Scottish Champion Hurdle when last seen and has won first time out twice.
Analysis by Phill Anderson

Can Squirrel emulate Marble Arch?

Hughie Morrison is hoping highly promising five-year-old Secret Squirrel can emulate his close relative Marble Arch by winning this £125,000 pre-Christmas cracker.

Marble Arch landed this race for Morrison in 2001 and Secret Squirrel appears to have the potential to follow in his relative’s hoofprints.

“Secret Squirrel is well handicapped, but still has a lot to learn,” Morrison said. “He has a nice racing weight, though, and I just hope the ground doesn’t get too soft. I have been happy with him since his reappearance last month.

Marble Arch was also aged five when he landed the Ladbroke, and went on to finish a three-length runner-up to Hors La Loi in the Champion Hurdle.

What they say

Alan King, trainer of Favour And Fortune and Tritonic
Favour And Fortune has come to hand quicker than I was expecting after his hock injury and he might have returned to action at Doncaster last weekend. I decided that he would benefit from waiting a week and I was delighted with how he worked on the grass last Saturday. While I'm sure there will be improvement in him, as he's not run since April, I believe that he's ready to run well. I just hope the ground doesn't get too testing. Tritonic pleased me in midweek and is on a fair mark now.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Be Aware
He's in very good form and I do think he's stepped forward from the Greatwood. It's a competitive race but he couldn't be in better shape.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Our Champ
He's a solid horse who always runs his race. I would imagine the handicapper has got him now, but he loves Ascot.

Fergal O’Brien, trainer of Dysart Enos
Straight after the Greatwood I was obviously disappointed because I got sucked into the hype, but when we watched it back she did a lot wrong. She was very keen and had been off for ten months. Burdett Road is obviously a fair horse and in hindsight it was a good run. What I was most pleased with was how she jumped. That was my one concern because last season in a couple of her runs she was a little bit sticky over hurdles but we always hoped the better the race the better she'd jump and that was the case. She won't be too far away again.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Go Dante
We're taking the headgear off. Ideally, he wants slower ground. I'd be a lot sweeter on his chance if it came up soft.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Kabral Du Mathan
He's a nice prospect. I was delighted with his comeback success at Kempton where he was firmly on top at the finish, and feel he has a lovely chance provided they don't get much rain.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Black Hawk Eagle
It's a huge pot to play for. He's got his ideal conditions, namely a right-handed track on better ground. The owners are a great group of people and I'll be delighted for them if he picks up some prize-money.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Saturday previews:

1.50 Haydock: Iroko faces three formidable rivals from Ireland's top stables in intriguing graduation chase

2.05 Haydock: 'He goes there with a massive chance' - which trainer expects a big run in the competitive Tommy Whittle Chase?

2.25 Ascot: 'He's going to take an awful lot of beating' - Long Walk Hurdle quotes and insight

3.00 Ascot: Can huge Coral Gold Cup eyecatcher Victtorino continue Venetia Williams' run of big Saturday winners?