Grade One Top Novices' Hurdle Guide 2022

First Street was a cracking second to the highly regarded, clearly well-in State Man in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

He had Colonel Mustard in third and West Cork back in fourth so the form looks solid too.

Prior to that he ran a blinder in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury behind Glory And Fortune (ran ok in the Champion Hurdle). He has solid form, and this track should play to his strengths.

First Street is a massive player.

A winner for Willie Mullins on his first start for the yard (French recruit), at Tramore. He won by 13L and was really visually impressive.

Though it doesn't look like he beat much that day, he is highly regarded and it's interesting they side stepped Cheltenham with him. Hard to assess but impossible to rule out for top connections.

Aucunrisque took the G2 Dovecot at Kempton last time out, he did that in workmanlike fashion, and the form doesn't look the strongest.

His official rating of 133, on paper, looks to be well short of the ones towards the top of the market here (Jonbon 147).

Though Aucunrisque doesn't have the strongest strong, you can't knock his constitution. He battled well enough to win last time out, but he'll have to improve upon that to get involved today.

Jonbon is the standout performer in this field. Without Constitution Hill, he'd have ran out a ready winner of the Supreme Novice hurdle.

He had won 3/3 of his races this season prior to that Supreme Novices' second, and those races represent solid form. He jumps well and clearly has massive amounts of ability, and will most certainly be the horse to beat. 

An interesting runner for Peter Fahy, Suprise Package definitely didn't disgrace himself at Cheltenham, finishing sixth in the ultra competitive County Hurdle.

He made good, rapid headway but his run ultimately wasn't enough. This flat track should suit him more, and he's a live each way player today.

Won at the ninth time of asking last time out at Thurles, beating Showbusiness (115) in second. He did win by 43L, making all of the running.

He will not be able to dictate like he did at Thurles and get an uncontested, easy lead against this calibre of horse. His price represents his chance.

Lots to find.

A serial winner for trainer Donald McCain, winning 5 of his 6 races under rules. He was beaten last time out in a competitive race at Cheltenham, where North Lodge landed the spoils.

Prior to that he had racked up a sequence and short odds, in uncompetitive races. He will need to improve to get in the mix here, against a totally different calibre of horse today.

A Different Kind will be totally up against it today.

Along with El Fabiolo, Vina Ardanza is a completely unexposed horse for another set of top connections in Gordon Elliot. He won a bumper at Ayr last season and won on hurdles debut at Thurles in November.

He then just failed to win last time out at Naas in a G3 behind Highland Charge. Vina Ardanza was unlucky in the run, when short of room at a critical stage.

He could well be unbeaten and he's hard to rule out for a top team.

A 200/1 fourth of nine on his only start at Sandown in December, against Constitution Hill (beaten 46l).

Eyed hasn't made the track since, and it's hard to see him getting involved here, in G1 company today. Looks to be an astronomical ask.