Top runners hit the hurdles at Newbury

Two-day declarations bring top jumpers to Newbury's Super Saturday

TWENTY-TWO runners have been declared for the £152,500 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse's Betfair Super Saturday this weekend.

Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls is running current favourite Zarkandar and top weight Brampour, winner of the Greatwood Hurdle last November, and Empire Levant, a winner at the Sportingbet Winter Festival last year.

Nicky Henderson has the unbeaten Darlan, 2010 Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino and Ericht as his runenrs, and the fancied Raya Star, trained by Alan King, has also been declared.

Other top runners include Tom George's Olofi, Irish Raider Final Approach and former winner of then Titesport Hurdle Get Me Out Of Here in 2010.

The eight-race card included the renamed Betfair Denman Chase, with 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run down to run, and the the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, rescheduled from Sandown last weekend.