Hermes Allen to make winning return at Newbury

At a track where he put up the best display of his career, Hermes Allen looks hard to oppose in the Coral John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury on Friday.

Sent off favourite for both the Ballymore and the Mersey Novices' Hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree respectively last spring, he is clearly held in the highest regard by champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

That is mainly due to his exploits in the first half of last season when he won a Grade Two novice event at Cheltenham impressively and fairly bolted up in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

The Challow worked out incredibly well, with runner-up You Wear It Well winning the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Festival, yet she was in receipt of 3.5kg and could not hold a candle to him.

It was therefore disappointing he folded so tamely behind Impaire Et Passe at Cheltenham, but he did show a good deal more behind Irish Point at Aintree, confirming form with You Wear It Well.

Nicholls has started him off much later this season - he had already run twice this time last year - and that will be with the idea of keeping more in the tank for the spring.

Having undergone wind surgery during the off-season, Hermes Allen can provide the Ditcheat team with a first victory in this Grade Two contest since Clan Des Obeaux's success in 2016.

The opening race of the two-day meeting, the Coral Get Closer To The Action "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle, has been won by some top-class horses down the years.

Sizing Europe took it before he was well known and it is one Nicky Henderson tends to target - he is going for his seventh win since 2014.

Buveur D'Air and Jonbon struck for Seven Barrows in the JP McManus silks and the world and his wife appears to know great things are expected of Jeriko Du Reponet in the future.

He took part in a recent gallops morning, catching many an eye, and the point-to-point winner can start the meeting in style.

Russian Ruler looks another likely scorer for Henderson in the Coral Racing Club Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

Always highly regarded, he only began to repay that faith towards the end of last season, but it was a case of the old saying 'anything he did over hurdles was a bonus'.

Expect him to take his form to a new level over the larger obstacles this term.

Henderson's Marie's Rock will surely have too much pace for Paisley Park and Dashel Drasher in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle.

Paisley Park ran a blinder in this last year when going down by only a neck to Champ and then won the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton, but his subsequent form in the Cleeve and Stayers' Hurdles was far removed from his best.

Dashel Drasher ran well enough on his return at Wetherby but could do with deeper ground to be seen to best effect.

Marie's Rock beat Dashel Drasher by six lengths in the Relkeel last season and while she disappointed behind Honeysuckle at the Festival, she showed her true colours when runner-up at Aintree against Sire Du Berlais and 4800m now seems her trip.

Gordon Elliott has to split up his army of stars somehow and with a Grade Three juvenile hurdle taking place in Fairyhouse this weekend, he is sending Wodhooh over for the "Bet In-Race" With Coral Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle.

The ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate is three from three over timber, albeit she was awarded her first race by the stewards.

Last time out she beat another previous winner and the Irish juveniles have tended to be a different level to those in the UK recently.

At Doncaster, Heritier can provide the excellent Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero partnership with another winner in the ICD UK Members Handicap Chase.

He appeared rejuvenated by the switch to hurdles last time out at Uttoxeter, justifying strong support in the process.

He goes back over fences now, and could be a different proposition after a confidence boost.

Florida Dreams was a Grade Two bumper winner at Aintree and went hurdling with high hopes.

He could finish only third on his debut over timber at Ayr, but that was a hot little race and there was room for improvement with his jumping, which surely Nicky Richards will have been working on ahead of the Bet On This Race In Running With BetVictor Maiden Hurdle at Musselburgh. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

DONCASTER: Race 1: 13.45 The Bomber Liston, Race 2: 14.17 Heritier, Race 3: 14.50 Bective Abbey, Race 4: 15.25 Vintage Fizz, Race 5: 16.00 Virginia Lodge, Race 6: 16.35 Rockinastorm, Race 7: 17.10 Scudamore.

MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 13.55 Florida Dreams, Race 2: 14.25 Magic Mike, Race 3: 15.00 Moonlight Glory, Race 4: 15.35 Friary Rock, Race 5: 16.10 Aurora Thunder, Race 6: 16.45 Dr Shirocco, Race 7: 17.20 Chantilly Moon.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 14.10 Jeriko Du Reponet, Race 2: 14.40 Russian Ruler, Race 3: 15.15 Wodhooh, Race 4: 15.50 HERMES ALLEN (NAP), Race 5: 16.25 Kandoo Kid, Race 6: 17.00 Marie's Rock, Race 7: 17.35 Hyland.

ALL TO COME: Russian Ruler and Hermes Allen (Newbury, Races 2 and 4).