Punch hoping to land knockout blow at Cheltenham

10 have been declared for Friday's Sharp Novices' Hurdle, the first Graded race ran at Cheltenham this season.

Dan Skelton arrives on a hat-trick after Fortune De Mer and Valgrand obliged in 2025 & 2024 respectively, and the champion trainer looks to have a decent chance yet again as he saddles the favourite.

Every now and again this race can unearth a real gem, with past renewals going the way of Cue Card and Altior.

Cooltobecareless is the Skelton hat-trick hope, fresh off the back of an impressive success at Chepstow a fortnight ago.

Carrying the same colours as previous winner Valgrand, it's difficult to know exactly the strength of the opposition from his Chepstow win, but he couldn't have been any more impressive, putting on the turbo in the closing stages to score by 13 lengths. The Skelton team are in absolutely flying form in pursuit of Martin Pipe's record for the most Jumps winners in a season and taking out the first Graded race at Cheltenham this season could be a sign of things to come.

Nicky Henderson provides the main opposition to the Skelton's, opting to pitch Planters Punch into deeper waters for the very first time. Much has been made about the way Henderson has used the brand new Junior Novices' Hurdles to bring along current Surpeme favourite Feel Gut, however, he racked up three such victories with Planters Punch, too. The four-year-old won how he liked on his final two starts last season, but probably achieved the most on debut when he narrowly edged out the now 124-rated Aqua Blue at Hereford.

The market has those two setting the standard, but there are plenty of unexposed types in behind.

Nigel & Willie Twiston Davies have really hit the ground running and Scott's Legacy is an intriguing runner after recording a comprehensive victory over the re-opposing Matiwo at Newton Abbot last month.

At 12/1, Spanish Darling sprang quite the upset when going in at Worcester two weeks ago but there was no fluke about the performance whatsoever. Going in by an eased down seven lengths, he looks to have plenty of promise after switching from Tom George to Alex Hales over the summer.

Sharp Novices' Hurdle confirmed runners

1. Bells Grove
2. Cooltobecareless
3. Eternal Angel
4. Governors Rock
5. Kingofthefrontier
6. Sixpack
7. Spanish Darling
8. Matiwo
9. Planters Punch
10. Scott's Legacy

Sharp Novices' Hurdle betting odds

(Odds will display when market is available)

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.