Nicky Henderson, who has a formidable team lined up for next week's Cheltenham Festival, can put himself in the right frame of mind by enjoying a successful day at Sandown tomorrow.

The Lambourn trainer, who has saddled 20 winners at the Festival, will be represented next week by the likes of Dusk Duel, Bacchanal, Mister Banjo, Marlborough, Makounji and Inca, all horses with solid chances of scoring.

Easter Ross was also among the Cheltenham squad, but Henderson has elected to run him instead in tomorrow's Burnt Oak And Special Cargo Novices' Chase.

Owned by Her Majesty the Queen, Easter Ross, a highly-rated horse over hurdles, trotted-up on his chasing debut at Kempton last month. He is confidently expected to follow-up tomorrow.

Henderson and his stable-jockey Mick Fitzgerald can also lift the £28,000 EBD National Hunt Novices' Handicap Hurdle with Admiral Rose.

Unbeaten in both his races this season but not seen out since romping home at Folkestone in November, Admiral Rose looks handily-weighted in his first handicap.

Sandown's outstanding feature is the £33,000 Sunderlands Imperial Cup, a difficult handicap hurdle, but a race where a punter with a brave heart could well win - not a fair lady, but a fair wedge of money.

Five-year-olds have a particularly good record in his race and it is from that age-group that I have plumped for Hariymi, a very lively outsider, who promises to start at bumper odds.

In the money in all his four starts this season, Richard Rowe's charge came good in a recent Grade 2 event at Kempton. Off a handy weight tomorrow and with Barry Fenton in the saddle, Hariymi is adventurously awarded the nap vote.

Also worthy of mentioning are another brace of Henderson runners; Mountain Path (4.40) and Bella Macrae (5.15).

At Chepstow, the in-form Sunrise Special can chalk up his third win from four outings in the £15,000 Capital Racecourse Of Wales Handicap Chase.

A much-improved performer since being stepped-up in trip, Sunrise Special absolutely trotted-up over this course and distance last month. He has since been hiked up 11lb in the ratings, but may still be one step ahead of the handicapper.

Ambleside, another with useful course-and-distance form, can take the opening Tote Exacta Handicap Chase. Sue Williams' gelding scored handsomely from Rightsaidfred here last month and comes into this race on a high.

Also worth noting are Zabari (2.00) and Lakefield Leader (3.40) two more horses from the Nicky Henderson stable.

Although today's meeting at Ayr fell victim to waterlogging, an inspection this morning passed the course fit for racing tomorrow.

Conditions, predictably, will be very testing, and the ability to cope with heavy ground will be a pre-requisite for winners.

Birkdale, who is in his element in the mud, makes appeal in the Hamilton Campbell Handicap Chase while stable-mate Plumbob can make the most of his light weight in the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cup Handicap Hurde.

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