NEWBURY Racecourse takes centre stage this afternoon with their feature race - the Grade Three, £120,000 Totesport Trophy, Britain’s most valuable handicap hurdle.

Local trainer Alan King, who had two high profile winners in Medermit and Blazing Bailey last weekend - both of which were this column’s selections - could well saddle four runners in what is regarded as one of the biggest betting hurdle races of the season.

Heading King’s band of challengers is Salden Licht. A winner on the flat at Doncaster in October, he made a successful return over hurdles at Exeter earlier in the season and is quoted by his trainer as being in super form. The seven-year-old is likely to start second favourite for the valuable prize.

The trainer added: “Looking back on Salden Licht’s form last year he was probably a bit under the weather, however he is in very good order now.

“Also, the form is working out nicely with Hunterview, who came third to him last time at Exeter, winning at Musselburgh in the week and Captain Chris, who Salden Licht finished second to at Cheltenham last year, finishing second to Medermit last weekend.

“Salden Licht has gone up in the weights but I feel there is still mileage for him to improve.”

Walkon could be another interesting runner from the Barbury Castle yard. A Grade One winner at Aintree, he made a useful return to the track recently at Ascot - finishing second.

Number one stable jockey Robert Thornton, who was expected to ride Salden Licht, has jumped ship and has chosen to ride Walkon.

Thornton said: “It’s been a very tough decision but I schooled Walkon and he was bursting so I had to stick to him. I have won a Grade One on him and he is six pound well in.”

Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson comes in for the ride on Salden Licht and was reported as saying that he wouldn’t swap the ride.

“I rode him to victory at Exeter carrying a lot of weight and he felt like a horse with a lot of class,” he said. “He’s a strong individual and we will see if he is good enough.”

Progressive novice hurdler Lolith is expected to take his chance, as is the likely outsider of the quartet - The Betchworth Kid.

The trainer said: “Betchworth Kid is a little enigma, but he could go well and run a stormer, a strong two miles is just what he wants.

“He’s a tough horse to win with but he has an awful lot of ability.”

Favourite for the race is the Nicky Henderson-trained Solix, who has yet to run in Britain. Having been backed from 16/1 into around 6/1 in just over a week, the five-year-old, who carries top weight with Salden Licht, bids to be the trainer’s fifth victory in the race.

Champion jockey AP McCoy will be looking for a repeat success on the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Get Me Out Of Here, who won the race last year but has not impressed since.

The column’s selection is Walkon , with an each-way interest on locally trained The Betchworth Kid.

Also on a start-studded card at Newbury is the Totepool Game Spirit Chase, a race at the mercy of the Paul Nicholls-trained Woolcombe Folly. Nicholls also runs Tchico Polos in the same race.

The Aon Chase, another Grade Two event, sees Riverside Theatre installed as favourite, with What A Friend a likely danger.

Kid Cassidy could get backers off to a good start on the first race on the card, while later in the afternoon Persian Snow could send the punters home happy by winning the Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Channel Four cameras will be at Warwick for their feature race, the Turf TV Handicap Chase, that could go to Hey Big Spender, ridden by Joe Tizzard.

Best bet at Ayr could be the Nicky Richards-trained Premier Sagas, while at Lingfield Sir Geoffrey and Obsession look likely winners.