One of the key races at the Cheltenham Festival 2019 will be come significantly clearer on Saturday with a host of star names entered for the Cleeve Hurdle.
In total, there are 14 runners in the race at the five-day stage with a number of Stayers' Hurdle contenders set to take their chance for the final time before heading back to the same venue for the big race in the spring.
The stand out name on Saturday could be Midnight Shadow who looks set to take his chance for Sue Smith and Danny Cook. The 6-year-old has been one of the stars of the season so far with a series of impressive displays culminating in an excellent victory in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham at the start of the month and connections will be hopeful that there is some more improvement to come.
Other possible runners on Trials Day include Paisley Park, who has won his last three for Emma Lavelle including in the Long Walk Hurdle just before Christmas in emphatic fashion at Ascot.
Black Op is back over hurdles for Tom George after an aborted chasing career and should go well if at his very best given his high quality form as a novice behind Samcro.
There are also some old favourites in the field with Unowhatimeanharry and Lil Rockerfeller set to take their chance back at a venue where they have tasted success before which will only add another intriguing angle to the contest.
Cheltenham Festival Trials Day is always a key moment on the road to the key meeting in March but this Cleeve is particularly exciting with the Stayers' Hurdle picture likely to become a lot clearer as a result of this contest.
