Talking Horses: Hermes Allen can claim Challow glory at Newbury

First Street can get the better of stablemate Marie’s Rock in the Grade Two [e-mail] Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day

A Grade Two winner at Cheltenham last month, Hermes Allen can end 2022 by giving Paul Nicholls a fifth victory in the Grade One Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle. Picture: Tim Goode/PA 

Hermes Allen can cap another successful festive period for Paul Nicholls by giving Britain’s champion trainer a third straight victory in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle, the feature race on Newbury’s New Year’s Eve card.

Nicholls has claimed this Grade One prize with King George hero Bravemansgame and Stage Star in recent years and looks to have a great chance of completing the hat-trick with Hermes Allen.