Modus leads field for Betfair Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old, runner-up in the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, has won two of his three starts over hurdles this season, including a novice event over the course and distance on November 26.

Modus is scheduled to carry 10st 8lb in the Betfair Hurdle. Charmix boosted the form by winning another Newbury race, the British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle, easily by 17 lengths on December 16.

Nicholls, the champion Jump trainer, who landed the Betfair Hurdle with Zarkandar in 2012, has also left in All Yours (11st 2lb, 16/1) and Some Plan (11st, 20/1), who was fourth in a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot recently.

An interesting contender is Pearl Castle (10st 9lb, Karl Burke, 25/1). The six-year-old was last seen out on the Flat at Lingfield Park on January 22, when he was a staying-on fifth, beaten two lengths, over two miles.

The son of Montjeu was a very useful juvenile hurdler two seasons ago when trained by John Quinn and shaped with promise on his most recent start over hurdles when chasing home the progressive Aristo Du Plessis at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day.

Burke said: “Pearl Castle is definitely under consideration for the Betfair Hurdle. He will either go to Newbury or to the Musselburgh County Hurdle which is four or five days before. A lot will depend on the ground as he doesn’t want it too soft.”

The weights are headed by Sempre Medici (11st 12lb, Willie Mullins, 16/1) following the defection of original top-weight Peace And Co. 

Mullins still has nine entries remaining including Kalkir (11st 2lb, 14/1), who was runner up in a valuable handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on January 17.

Betfair Hurdle: 7/1 Modus; 8/1 War Sound; 12/1 Desoto County; 14/1 Kalkir; 16/1 Affaire d’Honneur, All Yours, Charmix, John Constable, Sempre Medici, Starchitect, Sternrubin; 20/1 bar.