Knappers Hill can prove class always rises to the top in the European Breeders’ Fund Paddy Power “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.
The Paul Nicholls-trained top-weight still has the option of running in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival but taking in this race, which is worth more money and has no Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott representative, looks far more sensible.
Nicholls has made no secret of the regard in which he holds Knappers Hill, who won the first five races of his career.
His winning run came to an end when taking on Jonbon in a Grade Two at Ascot but there was no disgrace at all in being beaten five and a half lengths into third by one of the favourites for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
That form has been franked by the winner, who defied a penalty in heavy ground at Haydock, and the fourth, Dan Skelton's mare Elle Est Belle, who won the Sidney Banks next time out, and the fifth, I Like To Move It, who was beaten a short head in the Betfair Hurdle.
That was where Knappers Hill was last seen, finishing six lengths behind I Like To Move It It in sixth. But he will be much better suited takin on potential chasers in this event rather than speedy hurdlers at Newbury.
A mark of 135 could seriously underestimate him and with Nicholls now back in good form, he is a confident selection.
The card is highlighted by the Paddy Power Imperial Cup which has attracted a maximum field but not the ante-post favourites Langer Dan and Anyharminasking.
Nicky Henderson's Balco Coastal is the new market leader and while he looks a very nice prospect, he lacks experience for a race of this nature and the stiff uphill finish might not be in his favour either.
So preference is for the much more battle-hardened Onemorefortheroad who arrives fresh.
Neil King had been aiming him at the Betfair Hurdle, and he was among the leading fancies for that until a setback in the days before it ruled him out of the race.
That could work in his favour with this race in mind, though, and he showed when second to the classy Tritonic his progress might not yet have ended, despite it being a first defeat in four races, and only his second in seven.
He has made all a few times in the past but proved last time out he can be just as effective dropped in, which might be better tactics in a race like this.
Milton Harris has enjoyed a fantastic season and Mullenbeg could be a star of the future if she can continue her winning run in the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
She has been hugely impressive in two bumpers to date, and was fancied for the championship event at Cheltenham.
However, Harris has settled for the easier option, and in her case with valuable black type up for grabs it looks the right call, even with a 4lb penalty for her win in a similar event at Cheltenham last time out.
Charlie Longsdon will be hoping the rain stays away for Scene Not Herd in the Paddy Power Novices' Handicap Chase.
He has looked a horse of big potential winning all three races over fences this season but he appears to relish a decent surface.
The chase course is always quicker at Sandown, so that is in his favour.
Stuart Crawford's Ballycoose can make up for an unlucky incident when last seen in the Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle at Ayr.
Winner of a Down Royal bumper and a maiden hurdle at Ayr, he made a bad mistake at the first and was quickly pulled up.
Moonlighter is not quite the force of old but has dropped significantly in the weights ahead of the Richard Llewellyn 30th Birthday Handicap Chase at Hereford.
On the all-weather at Lingfield King Of Time should have no trouble adding to an impressive debut win in the Coral-sponsored Novice Stakes, while at Wolverhampton Jamie Spencer can help Zarzyni get back to winning ways in the Betway Handicap.
SELECTIONS:
AYR: 1.00 Charm Offensive, 1.35 Ned Tanner, 2.10 First Account, 2.45 Ballycoose, 2.20 Shoeshine Boy, 3.55 Donna's Delight, 4.30 Oot Ma Way.
GOWRAN: 1.25 Backintheroom, 2.00 Caldwell Diamond, 2.35 Premier Queen, 3.10 Dancing Jeremy, 3.45 Gevrey, 4.20 Aione, 4.55 Down The Highway, 5.25 Kalanisi Star.
HEREFORD: 1.56 Hermes Boy, 2.31 Lord Of Kerak, 3.06 Runasimi River, 3.41 Moonlighter, 4.16 Fiveandtwenty, 4.51 City Chief, 5.21 Sure Touch, 5.51 Always Able.
KEMPTON: 5.00 Amasova, 5.30 Show Yourself, 6.00 Figures, 6.30 Guitar, 7.00 King's Knight, 7.30 Earlofthecotswolds, 8.00 Masqool, 8.30 Be Fair.
LINGFIELD: 1.46 Helian, 2.21 King Of Time, 2.56 Eye Of The Water, 3.31 Papa Stour, 4.06 Mashaan, 4.41 Streaky Bay.
NAVAN: 1.40 Showbusiness, 2.15 Morning Logic, 2.50 Rodney Bay, 3.25 Bronn, 4.00 Master McShee, 4.35 Call The Tune, 5.10 Spare Brakes, 5.45 Don Chalant.
SANDOWN: 1.15 Langafel, 1.50 KNAPPERS HILL (NAP), 2.25 Onemorefortheroad, 3.00 Mullenbeg, 3.35 Scene Not Herd, 4.10 Powerstown Park, 4.45 Foxboro.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.31 Zarzyni, 2.05 Hafeet Alain, 2.40 Internationalangel, 3.16 Killearn, 3.51 Fountain Cross, 4.26 Way To Win, 5.04 Reckon I'm Hot.
DOUBLE: Knappers Hill and Mullenbeg.
