McNeill hoping Drama takes starring Challow role

There will be some nerves but also plenty of excitement for joint-owner Max McNeill as the exciting No Drama This End tackles the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

Trainer Paul Nicholls holds a stellar record in the final Grade One of the year in Britain, saddling six previous winners, and the strapping five-year-old is the odds-on favourite following two impressive displays so far over hurdles.

“I’ve got some really nice horses in the squad, but we’re all hoping this one could be the one to take us to the very top table and we’re all very excited about it,” said McNeill, who owns No Drama This End alongside Chris and Giles Barber.

“We have to duck and dive a bit, the sales ring now is incredible and it’s great for the sport, but we can’t play at that level. I have some really good mates who I own horses with and we have to box clever and tend to bat above our average.

No Drama This End 🤌

The exciting novice remains unbeaten over flights in the £80,000 @BetfairRacing Winter Novices' Hurdle for @PFNicholls, @CobdenHarry and the @McNeill_Family pic.twitter.com/pLhAR59i4q

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 5, 2025

“We like having winners and we just hope we land on one. It’s too early to say we’ve landed on one yet, but he’s certainly one who has got that real potential to be the horse we all dream of.”

No Drama This End gave a glimpse of his potential when scooping Grade Two honours on a wet and windy afternoon at Cheltenham last month, drawing his first comparison to one of the Ditcheat greats from his handler.

Nicholls may have been at pains to qualify his Denman comments prior to his equally dazzling Sandown success in the Winter Novices’ Hurdle, but it will be hard to ignore the similarities should No Drama This End march on to land a race ‘The Tank’ won on New Year’s Day in 2006.

“When he won at Cheltenham it was the most miserable day but when he won like he did, it was all forgotten and we were dancing around in the rain and it could have been 28 degrees,” added McNeill.

“We took in the Sandown race along the way, Paul said he was well at home and Paul has taken a view on it again. He said if there was a single doubt he wouldn’t run, but he took some bloods on Boxing Day to be sure and they came back all clear and said there was still no doubts, so we’re all systems go.

“Of course there are some nerves there, but you have to try to enjoy it as it’s a great race with real history and a great occasion. It’s a competitive race and it’ll be no forgone conclusion, but it’s a day that I’m really looking forward to.

“I know some people have said the Challow is a graveyard and when it’s run on heavy ground it can take it’s toll, but if your horse is good enough to win there you can then go on and win at Cheltenham and other places like The New Lion proved last year.”

There are seven rivals queuing up for their shot at No Drama This End and the betting would suggest Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s Ffos Las winner Starzand could present the biggest danger.

A winning hurdle debut from Starzand, who hung left late on but rallied strongly to justify the strong market support…@Sean_Houlihan1 | @PJHobbs1 pic.twitter.com/90cvd012bQ

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 28, 2025

White said: “He’s in great form and did a nice piece of work earlier in the week.

“Paul’s horse will take a lot of beating, but after that it’s pretty open and we’re going there in top form.

“I really think the track will suit him and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the road. He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard and we’ll find out where we stand on Monday, but I couldn’t be happier going into the race.”

Tom Lacey’s Montmares heads to the Berkshire track unbeaten over hurdles, with Joe Tizzard’s Ascot winner Etna Bianco also arriving on the back of victory and course runner-up Kalkbrenner given the chance to enhance the fine Christmas period of Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.