Saying Grace at Sandown

NICKY Henderson is often the go-to guy for 32Red Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle riches and is expected to regain the winning thread with Kayf Grace.

The Seven Barrows handler loves a dart at this Grade One at Sandown, having won it four times in the last six years.

Henderson had to make do with the silver medal last season as O O Seven was comprehensively outgunned by Irish raider Yorkhill, who ended up victorious at Cheltenham and at Aintree.

But normal service can be resumed at the Esher track as Kayf Grace is a cautious fancy to give likely favourite Capitaine plenty to think about.

The latter looks a fair tool, of that there is little doubt, but he was well beaten at Haydock on his penultimate start and is unlikely to be granted such a soft lead that saw him stroll to Grade Two success at Ascot in December.

Kayf Grace, the only mare in the field, has not exactly been there and done it over hurdles, but there was a good deal to admire about her tidy triumph on debut at Bangor on December 9.

That was not a particularly strong novice hurdle, but it was reassuring to see runner-up that day, Report To Base, finish second in a Listed race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Kayf Grace might lack experience over hurdles, but that is perhaps offset by what she did in a Grade Two mares’ bumper at Aintree last April.

The seven-year-old showed resilience and a genuine fondness for a fight to get the better of Augusta Kate, who has since dotted up on her hurdling bow, by half a length.

That effort not only showed her quality, but also served notice that she should not buckle under pressure if push came to shove in the Tolworth.

A winner on variants of ground and deeply unexposed for a horse her age, that she is even in this sort of grade so soon is clearly testament to what Henderson thinks of her.

Court By Surprise is a good price in the 32Red Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

The 12-year-old should really have won more races during his career, but he has a decent record at Sandown and could feasibly have been trained to the minute for this assignment.

Court By Surprise found three miles and five furlongs too overwhelming at this track on December 3, but his prior run over course and distance served notice that the fires still burn from within.

Emma Lavelle’s old-timer only went down by half a length to Loose Chips in a qualifier for this race, so it is far from beyond the realms of possibility to suggest that form can be reversed.

Court By Surprise has not won for well over two years, but he is enticingly handicapped as a result and warmed up for this with a satisfactory fourth in a handicap chase at Doncaster, where, interestingly, he was the subject of plenty of market support.

Coeur De Lion must be followed in the 32Red-sponsored juvenile hurdle.

A typically smart young buck from Alan King’s yard, the four-year-old backed up victory at Wetherby in November with a solid second in a Triumph Hurdle trial at Cheltenham. (32) J Butler 5 9-10 .................................. T J Murphy (16) C Wallis 5 9-8 ................................. L Morris (10) M Attwater 7 9-6 (C) ...... Josephine Gordon (23) L Carter 5 9-6 (C) .......................................... K Fox (12) B Ellison 7 9-6 (CD2) ............ T Eaves P Hide 6 9-5 (D) .................................... G Lee (16) J Butler 5 9-4 (CD) ............... A Kirby (31) L Carter 9 9-1 (CD) .............. R Winston (22) J Ryan 4 9-0 ................. Lulu Stanford (5) (23) Miss K George 5 8-9 (D) ..... M Dwyer BETTING: 11-4 Malaysian Boleh, 9-2 Billyoakes, 5 Star Of The Stage, 6 Tabla, 8 Gold Return, 10 Black Caesar, 12 Noble Deed, 14 Falcao, 16 Others.

11-4fav In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 7f 3yo stks (2) pol in Dec beating Donjuan Triumphant by 1/2l, 9 ran. 16-1 Held up, pushed along over 4f out, headway on inside over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Ennaadd at Kempton 1m Listed stks (1) pol in Nov. 15-2 Dwelt in rear, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer, 7th of 12, 2 1/4l behind My Target at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec. 14-1 Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 15l behind My Target at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Nov. 25-1 Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, 4th and one pace towards finish, 4th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Mustashry at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul. 9-2 Raced in centre, switched right after start, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 7l behind Cornwallville at Newbury 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug. (9) C Wallis 4 10-0 ............................ A Beschizza (24) Richard Spencer 3 8-12 .................. L Keniry (120) J Tuite 3 8-12 ..................... J F Egan (171) J L Eyre 3 8-12 .................................. J Hart (45) M Botti 3 8-12 .............. D Muscutt (12) C Hills 3 8-7 (BF) ................................ L Morris SDixon38-7 ............................... KO’Neill (56) R Hannon 3 8-7 ........... T Marquand BETTING: 6-4 Coral Sea, 7-2 Dark Destroyer, 4 Jack Flash, 8 Bo Selecta, 14 Tai Hang Dragon, Roman Navigator, 16 Fille The Force, 25 Pleadings. FOOTLIGHT (7) R Fahey 4 9-11 ............. Natalie Hambling (7) MERCY ME (21) J Ryan 5 9-11 (C, D2) ........................... A Kirby SOLVEIG’S SONG (18) S Woodman 5 9-10 (D4) ........ J Mitchell OWNERS DAY N Mulholland 7 9-6 (D) ....................... L Keniry HEADS YOU WIN (22) J Osborne 4 9-4 .................. T J Murphy TWO IN THE PINK (20) R J Smith 7 9-3 (C) .............. D Probert TOMMYS GEAL (18) M Madgwick 5 8-12 (CD) ......... D Muscutt CELTIC AVA (24) P Phelan 5 8-11 (CD) ......................... J F Egan GO ON GAL (36) Miss J Feilden 4 8-9 ........... Shelley Birkett (3) BETTING: 3 Footlight, 7-2 Mercy Me, 5 Heads You Win, 7 Owners Day, 8 Solveig’s Song, Celtic Ava, 12 Go On Gal, 14 Tommys Geal, 16 Two In The Pink.