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There won’t be many more difficult handicaps to solve this jumps season than Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and obtaining value could prove the best plan of attack in the shape of SPIRITOFTHEGAMES who looks overpriced.

Dan Skelton’s six-year-old, the mount of Bridget Andrews, has never raced over two miles but the ability to stay a bit further than the trip is often needed in these big-fielded, highly-charged races, and he is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, presumably to sharpen him up a little.

On his second to William Henry in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton (2m5f) last month, Spiritofthegames ought to be a good deal shorter in the betting. The winner that day is almost certainly a smart horse and fourth-placed Topofthegame took a decent handicap at Sandown last week while others have run well since.

Moreover, there looks plenty of pace on here with the likes of Jenkins, Misterton, Lough Derg Spirit and Waterlord all normally ridden positively which could play into the hands of a stayer in the closing stages.

Jenkins has to be of interest after two recent victories wearing blinkers having hitherto failed to live up to a tall home reputation. He is another who looks sure to see the race out well after scoring over 2m3f at Ascot last time, and is slightly well in racing off a 3lb lower mark than in future handicaps though rider James Bowen claimed 5lb last time and now takes off just 3lb.