The Totesport Trophy runs on Friday at Newbury after a delay last week when two horses died of suspected electrocution in the paddock before the first race. Final Approach who won the MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown in January was ruled out of the race.

Recovering from injury, Walkon leads the antepost odds at the Grade 3, over two mile horse race. But there is a solid group at the top that includes top weights Solix and Salden Licht, and 2010 Totesport Trophy winner Get Me Out Of Here.

Solix hasn’t raced in the UK yet and is from the Nicky Henderson yard in France. He has quite a reputation as one of the top French juveniles. But he will face some seasoned veterans in this race and is carrying top weight which will be hard for a five year old.

Get Me Out Of Here is coming off two average races but has the pedigree to win this for the second consecutive year. After winning last year’s race, he came in second to Menorah in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Walkon is coming off almost two years of injury. The Alan King-trained horse finished as a runner up in the Grade 2 Holloways Hurdle at Ascot. This may be too big of a race for Walkon to handle this early in his comeback but is still a class act with good value.

With so much talent at the top, the each way betting is a safer wager. Drill Sergeant is consistent under Donald McCain and can deliver the goods in big races. He underperformed in his last time out at Ascot but finished in the first two in each of the previous four starts. Another horse with each way value is Soldatino. The Nicky Henderson-trained 2010 Triumph Hurdle winner is also an entry for the Champion Hurdle and his odds have shortened for the Totesport Trophy. He finished sixth in the Holloways Hurdle in his last time out behind Tiger O’Toole and Walkon.

Totesport Trophy Outright Odds (provided by Eurobet)

Walkon: 11/2

Soldatino: 6/1

Salden Licht: 8/1

Bothy: 10/1

Get Me Out Of Here: 9/1

Notus De La Tour: 12/1

Recession Proof: 12/1

Solix: 12/1

Drill Sergeant: 14/1

Lolith: 16/1

Rebel Dancer: 16/1

Sweet My Lord: 16/1

Zanir: 16/1

Eradicate: 25/1

Ronaldo Des Mottes: 25/1

The Betchworth Kid: 25/1

Palomar: 33/1

Tiger O’Toole: 40/1

Stormy Weather: 50/1

Nearby: 66/1

Sircozy: 66/1

Washington Irving: 66/1