First Street

I thought that First Street should have been clear favourite for the Gerry Feilden Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson’s horse finished third in the Betfair Hurdle that continues to give, and he ran a big race in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham next time, giving best only to State Man, who has since won two Grade 1 contests and is now third favourite for the Champion Hurdle.  He faced an improbable task, trying to concede 1lb to Willie Mullins’ horse.

You have to allow him his final run last season in the Top Novices’ Hurdle behind Jonbon and El Fabiolo, but those two could be among the best two-mile novices chasers around this season, and it wasn’t First Street’s running.  The fact that Nicky Henderson allowed him take his chance in that Grade 1 contest, and the fact that he was sent off at 9/2 third favourite, is a measure of the regard in which he is held.

That Betfair Hurdle run tells you that he goes well at Newbury, and we know that he goes well on good ground, his record on it reads 22115, and we know that he goes well fresh.  His record after a break of 60 days or more reads 221.  He is a classy horse and it may be that he will be able to give the weight away to all his rivals.

FIRST STREET WON (ADV 7/2, SP 3/1)