The first selection of the new season from jumps racing HQ is Elham Valley in the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle with the Fergal O'Brien trained five year old doing some of his best work round Chelteham.
As a juvenile his stand out performance came when third at the 2021 Cheltenham festival in the Grade Three Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle behind the likes of Jeff Kidder and Saint Sam.
Given a few runs on the flat looking to exploit his mark it didn't work out and when sent back over hurdles he seemed to have lost his way slightly, dropping down to as low as 109.
In May this year at Warwick he got back to winning ways over two miles on good ground but in his three runs after that went back to his inconsistent self.
Two starts ago at Newton Abbot he bounced back to form when winning at 2m1f Handicap Hurdle on good ground and then last time out off 117 was a close second behind Hurricane Ali at Southwell.
Only up 2lb for that run off a mark of 119, he is still 8lb below his third in the Boodles and running to that form makes him a big player.