Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle: Hermes Allen the one to beat

Nolan appreciates his charge faces a far stiffer task this weekend, but is hopeful the step up from two to an extended two and a half miles will bring about further improvement.

He said: “Hopefully they won’t get as much rain as forecast – the less rain there is the better for us. We’ve committed to going now, so on we go and hopefully we can have a good run.

“He went to the line well in Fairyhouse. I think the way he went to the line over two means the step up in trip won’t be an inconvenience anyway.

“He had a hold-up before Wexford and with the ground being a little bit good, we couldn’t really get a gallop in on grass. We thought he’d improve from there to Fairyhouse and hopefully he has the potential to improve again – he’ll have to.”

Hermes Allen and Joyeux Machin are just two of 14 runners declared, with Dan Skelton’s 17-length Hereford scorer Vicki Vale another of the leading contenders at 9/1.

Crambo puts his unbeaten record on the line for Fergal O’Brien, who also saddles the experienced Accidental Rebel as well as Marble Sands, while Thomas Mor is two from two for David Pipe.

Joyeux Machin is joined on the trip across the Irish Sea by Gordon Elliott’s Kansas City Star, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Idalko Bihoue and You Wear It Well from Jamie Snowden’s yard also merit consideration.

Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle betting odds

5/4 Hermes Allen

13/2 Attacca, Joyeux Machin

9/1 Vicki Vale

12/1 Crambo, Marble Sands

14/1 Passing Well

16/1 Idalko Bihoue, Kansas City Star

20/1 Bar

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All odds and market correct at date of publication