Nicky Henderson saddles a duo for the Sandown Hurdle on Saturday with Erzen who has only had four outings over hurdles but impressed at Kempton on Boxing Day to take runner up slot and Strawberry, a mare who usually delivers a good run and is a recent winner at Fakenham and Kempton but was pulled up last time out at Ascot just a couple of weeks ago.

Trenchant goes for Alan King, this one ran a decent race last time out over three miles at Cheltenham to take fifth slot, this trip could just be right up his street.

Strategic Approach is lightly raced but is doing just fine, he opened his account as a hurdler in December at Cheltenham and went on to take runner up slot at the same track a couple of weeks later.

David Pipe saddles the popular and tough Lough Derg and Ashkazar who returned to hurdles in December, he has talent but has not shown it recently.

Racing Demon is the one for Henrietta Knight, Arcalis for Howard Johnson while Nicky Richards runs the improver Merrydown.

Chief Yeoman, Silk Affair, Alderluck, Beshabar and Magic Sky complete the field.

Age Trend: Range: 5 - 9yo.

Trainer Trend: PF Nicholls has trained three winners of this race in the last five years. PJ Hobbs has trained two winners of this race in the last seven years.

Favourite Trend: The favourite has won this race four times in the last nine years but the top two in the betting has produced seven of the last nine winners.

Weight Trend: Range: 10-0 - 11-12.

Official Rating Trend: Range: 117 - 170.