The Group 3 race, registered as the Fred Darling, has attracted 22 entries which include Lowther Stakes 1-2 Swingalong and Queen Me . Kitty’s Light secured the big-race victory he has long promised with a determined display in the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle.

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose. Frodon made much of the early running but faded under top weight, and Kitty's Light jumped the last upsides Moroder before powering up the hill. Nicholls is now one away from matching the record of 15-time champion trainer Martin Pipe, and broke his own record for prize money. All of the leading market principles for the Grade 2 contest remained in contention including Tolworth third Nemean Lion , who scored at this level in Kelso's Premier Novices' Hurdle last month, and Morebattle runner-up Colonel Mustard . Scottish Grand National confirmations Cap Du Nord also has previous in this race, finishing a fine fifth 12 months ago. And while he struggled to build on his fine victory in the Grade Three Coral Trophy at Kempton in February when pulled-up at Aintree last time out, Williams feels it would be folly to rule him out here.

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She’s gone up 14lbs and I think it’s sporting of the owners (Sue Howell) to run her, she’s only a small mare so to carry 11st 12lbs at Sandown is a big ask, so all credit must go to the owners to carry on. That didn't prevent the latter coming down at the nineteenth (of 27), bringing down Dusart, with Mighty Thunder departing at the same obstacle as the field began to string out. Ayr was great last week, we were under pressure there as we'd had such a tough few weeks with Betsy and when we got up there the story was all about Betsy. We’re always on the lookout for horses every day and for a new place as well. We’ll find something. I have plenty of confidence in what I do and I have good staff, so moving is not something I’m worried about.

He does his best work in the latter stages of a race. He’s got a Flat pedigree and is not bred to be jumping fences and running over four miles! I think the only negative going into this is that he only won the Scottish National a week ago, but he’s freakish for a horse. The way he comes out of his races, you’ll never have seen anything like it. It's very special," said Williams, whose young daughter Betsy was recently diagnosed with leukaemia. We aimed Kitty’s Light for the Scottish National so we don’t worry about things like last year too much. If we had a chip on our shoulder and had a big issue about it, we would have laid him out for this race.

It looked like he was better than ever at the weekend. He jumped and travelled well. I always think he runs okay at Sandown as well - Paul Nicholls thought he should have won the race (with Enrilo in 2021) when they reversed the result and we thought we should have won it too! He said: “Cap Du Nord wasn't beaten far in the race last year and maybe he was disappointing when being pulled up at Aintree, but he did the same at Kelso last year before running well in the bet365. He got a terrible run round at Aintree, where it never happened for him. It's been tough but Kitty has been a flagship horse here for the last two years and winning the Scottish National was a massive boost for everyone, so it was a very emotional day." Corach Rambler's trainer Lucinda Russell may instead rely on Your Own Story and Mighty Thunder , who claimed the Scottish National in 2021 under Tom Scudamore.

Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Mojo Star features among the 11 entries in the colours of Amo Racing, who will also send out Listed winner Magical Sunset in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes ( 2.05 ). Kitty’s Light has already enjoyed a season to remember this term, also winning the valuable Eider Chase at Newcastle in February amongst his seven starts. Cooper's Cross was second with Flash De Touzaine third, Threeunderthrufive fourth and Magna Sam, whose effort proved short-lived, coming home in fifth. Kitty’s Light was cut to 5-1 from 10-1 for the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on March 18, but appears unlikely to take his chance.At Punchestown, Echoes In Rain won the Mares Champion Hurdle while Lossiemouth took the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle as trainer Willie Mullins ended the week with nine victories from the 12 Grade One races. A few people have said the race has cut up a little bit, but you try and win these races! It will be a strong race and Paul Nicholls is throwing plenty at it. He’s a tough man to beat but we enjoy trying to test ourselves against them and it will be a great challenge for us on Saturday.

Williams reports his charge to be in fine fettle ahead of the weekend, while sponsor bet365 rate Kitty’s Light as the 4/1 favourite for the 3m 5f contest. Ellis Collier will probably ride him, the owner (The Can’t Say No Partnership) likes to give young people a chance and we’d like to have him next year in the big races. The only way to give him experience is to give him rides. He ran in both races last year, but this year they’re only a week apart so I think we will target one or the other.

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All runners were in contention at the end of the first two of three circuits with Manothepeople and Lord Accord sharing pacemaking duties with Undersupervision, Ruthless Article and Threeunderthrufive in the next rank with Flash Collonges getting a clear sight of his fences on the outside. Sandown 3.25 It was a tough ask for Harper’s Brook to make the running in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival time and he was lit up by first-time cheekpieces too before being pulled up two out. The headgear is off this time and his earlier form this season gives Ben Pauling’s novice a big chance. I spoke to Charlotte (Williams' partner) and she said that Betsy thinks she's famous! It's brilliant and I know they're getting a massive lift from this, it's bound to be helping." I think everybody would think that he’d very much deserve a success, not just us at Christian Williams racing. There would be plenty of cheers at Sandown if he was to win, he’s just so consistent. He’s a mile horse really being by Nathaniel, it’s not his fault he was bought by a staying chase trainer!” Also featuring on Ayr's undercard is the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle ( 2.25 ), which attracted 19 runners at the confirmation stage including last year's winner Anna Bunina .