Brain Power and Finian’s Oscar to clash at Sandown
The Nicky Henderson-trained Brain Power and Colin Tizzard's Finian's Oscar are part of a high-class quintet set to run in a fascinating renewal of the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
DAVID MULLINS accepts that Brain Power faces a jump in class over fences in the randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old made a successful debut over the larger obstacles at Kempton last month which pleased Mullins and he makes the trip across from Ireland once again to ride the Michael Buckley-owned gelding.
It looks likely to be a very competitive renewal of the two-mile Grade One but Mullins is looking forward to the challenge.
"I'm really looking forward to it," said Mullins. "He did it well at Kempton, but he'll have to step up again now he's taking on higher company.
"I imagine they are the best of the English two-mile novices and it's a Grade One, so you'd expect it to be a real test."
Finian's Oscar is unbeaten in two races over fences at around two and a half miles this season, but drops back to two miles.
Colin Tizzard was expecting to swerve this race with an alternative engagement planned at Cheltenham next week.
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However, the horse was in such good conditions that the Dorset handler decided he may as well go for Grade One glory, with Robbie Power back on board due to Bryan Cooper's latest fitness woes.
"It looks a cracking race. There's good prize money and Finian's Oscar is in really good form," said the Dorset handler.
"Do we wait a week for Cheltenham or go for this one? We saw no reason why we shouldn't go for this one. That's why we're here."
A sub-plot in this tip-top five-runner heat is the rematch between old rivals North Hill Harvey and Sceau Royal.
When they met at Cheltenham in October, Dan Skelton's North Hill Harvey prevailed by a neck from Alan King's runner, who was conceding 5lb. Both horses have won since and neither can be discounted, despite taking on other talented novices.
Skelton believes the course at Sandown will play to North Hill Harvey's strengths.
"As he's got older and stronger he's actually got a bit faster and I think Sandown will really suit him," the trainer told At The Races.
"When you ran him against top-class opposition over two miles as a hurdler he looked like he wanted further, then you ran him over further and he looked like he didn't stay.
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"Probably as a hurdler he was just sub-Grade One level. As a chaser, going into the weekend, he doesn't appear to be that at all and warrants his position towards the top of the market.
"You can say he's definitely a better chaser than hurdler and we won't be getting away from two miles until we have to.
"His attitude counts for a lot as well. He really enjoys it."
The talented quintet is completed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Capitaine, who was beaten six lengths by Finian's Oscar in the Tolworth Hurdle at this track in January. He has taken well to chasing, winning both his start over fences, albeit in lesser company.