Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle

3.45 Wincaton
Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £39,907

Pick: Silviniaco Conti (win)

Silviniaco Conti: Won first four outings, dotting up on all occasions (has an aggregate victory distance of 61 lengths) and set for very top based on 7 length Ascot Hurdle romp, with established high class horses being beaten soundly in behind; Ran an excellent race to be third in the International Hurdle giving 4lbs in weight to Cue Card and Menorah and should run a big race if getting a good lead.

Celestial Halo: High class hurdler (second and fourth in Champion Hurdles) who was the top rated chasing recruit this season until a fall and lacklustre third ruined things on that front; Ran a perfectly satisfactory race in the Reelkeel Hurdle and again in Conditions Company last time behind Oscar Whisky, but does look to want more of a trip nowadays.

Overturn: Made some truly remarkable progress over hurdles and the flat fduring the summer, romping away with the Northumberland Plate, Scottish Champion Hurdle and Galway Hurdle; Ran a cracker in the Christmas Hurdle and looks sure to go well again here on track that should be tailor made for him.

Mille Chief: Was the Triumph Hurdle favourite before injury ruled him out for the season and has taken big steps forward with every single run this season, bumping into handicap blot in Agean Dawn before romping home under topweight in strong Sandown Handicap last time; Every chance of staking a major champion hurdle claim here although he has a tough test with all 4 rivals holding claims.

Ronaldo Des Mottes: Justified strong support when building on promise as a juvenile at Kempton and ran a blinder when second to Get Me Out Of Here in this race last year (not disgraced in any way when 7th at Punchestown Festival afterwards); Given this yard, absence not overly concerning and has to be given major chance of being good enough here.

VERDICT: A quality renewal and a serious Champion Hurdle trial. Mille Chief is seriously progressive and looked well up to the grade when bolting up in a quality 0-145 affair at Sandown last time, while form pick Overturn should make a bold bid from the front, but if SILVINIACO CONTI gets the test he needs then he’ll prove very hard to beat even with his penalty. Ronaldo Des Mottes and Celestial Halo are not taken lightly.