'This lad would be the best we've ever had' - exciting battle ahead in Tolworth

2.25 Sandown
Unibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Michael Scudamore has won a Welsh Grand National with Monbeg Dude and landed the Cheltenham Festival's Grand Annual with Next Sensation, but he believes Do Your Job is the most talented horse he has had.

The seven-year-old won twice in October before being beaten into second at Listed level at Haydock, although Scudamore feels things did not pan out perfectly then.

Watch Do Your Job make light work of his rivals at Ayr in October

"We thought he probably didn't run his race when he was beaten by Llandinabo Lad as we maybe got racing too far out, although that's not to take anything away from the winner and we might not have beaten him anyway," he said.

"He deserves his place in the field, should handle conditions and he might have the strongest form, but he's going to have to step up again to beat the likes of Metier."

Scudamore, who took a Listed prize with Nada To Prada before Christmas, has had 13 winners this term, which puts him in a position for his best tally since he saddled 26 in 2016-17.

A first Grade 1 winner would be extra special.

"It was nice to get that Listed winner on the board and it's very exciting to have these nice horses in the yard," he added. "We're only a small team and horses like Do Your Job don't come along every day.

"Monbeg Dude wasn't a worldbeater but was all heart and as tough as they come, whereas on natural ability this lad would be the best we've ever had."

Sandown is confident racing will go ahead on Saturday. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said on Friday: "I think we'll be okay. It's a case of what could happen, there could be some sleety showers overnight and the temperature could be near freezing but could equally be a bit better.

"There certainly wasn't anything in the outlook to need to call a precautionary look. We'd have had no issues if we were racing today and we should be fine in the morning."

What they say

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Grandeur D'Ame
I really like him, but [owner] Andrew Brooks, his team and I weren't keen on going down the bumper route for the rest of the season, so we decided to go hurdling, although there was no point going round the gaff tracks at this stage of the campaign. We know he loves soft ground, so we thought we'd put him in good races and if he wins, happy days, we'll be over the moon, but if he doesn't he'll run in a couple of others and have the experience as a second-season novice hurdler next term. He's been a bit rushy in his schooling – seeing the hurdles and charging at them – so he's got to relax a bit, but his actual jumping is very good. I wouldn't have done this on decent ground, but we know he handles this soft, horrible ground.

Harry Fry, trainer of Metier
Bloodstock agent Kevin Ross was very keen on him at the sales, picking him out for us as a juvenile hurdle prospect, but this time last year it wasn't quite happening for him, so we backed off and kept him as a novice for this season. Maybe in hindsight it was the making of him. He's done everything right and we know he handles testing conditions, which is one of the reasons we targeted this race. A stiff two miles should be right up his street.

Ben Pauling: trainer is sweet on Shakem Up'Arry's chance

Ben Pauling, trainer of Shakem Up'Arry
He'll love the testing ground and has everything in his favour. He's a chaser in the making but is a second-season novice hurdler with plenty of experience and he's a tough horse who'll go a good gallop. On that ground, he's got quite a few positives. His rating doesn't say he'll win, but I think he'll go very close.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Smurphy Enki
We thought we'd have a go at a race like this as he deserved a crack after the way he won at Plumpton last time. If it goes wrong we'll go back and find a little novice hurdle, but he's got plenty of knee action and he's by Blue Bresil, whose progeny seem to go well in the mud. He won at Wincanton last season on ground that was really bad by the time the bumper came along. He's in great form.

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2.25 Sandown: 'This lad would be the best we've ever had' – exciting battle ahead in Tolworth

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2.13 Cork: Willie Mullins double-handed in bid to continue red-hot run in Cork feature

3.00 Sandown: Battle of the veterans: analysis and key quotes for Sandown's big final

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