He had the one-two last year and has four lined up this time - can Ben Pauling land Saturday's £80,000 prize again?

Ben Pauling has assembled an "exceptionally strong" team as he bids for another eve-of-Cheltenham boost in the EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown on Saturday.

He had a one-two in the £80,000 handicap with Champagne Twist and Pic Roc last year and is aiming four horses at the prize this season.

Runners need to have finished in the first four in a qualifier to be eligible and the trainer said: "It's a series that I love to target. It's a great opportunity for horses who are probably future chasers or not quite ready for the bigger festivals but have a decent amount of ability to run in a good race.

"It's a nice prize and this team looks exceptionally strong. It worked out really well last year and I'm hoping we can do something similar this time."

JP McManus's Meetmebythesea, unbeaten in 2m hurdles at Ludlow (two) and Doncaster, is the shortest-priced of Pauling's four contenders, ahead of the Owners Group's Lingfield and Market Rasen winner It's Hard To Know, who has not raced since being well beaten in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December.

"I think Meetmebythesea is probably going to lead the charge," the trainer said. "He's in especially good form and he's won three races on tracks and over trips that I wouldn't necessarily have expected him to excel at.

Ben Pauling: "I think Meetmebythesea is probably going to lead the charge" Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm hoping the step up to two and a half miles on a galloping track will be right up his street.

"It's Hard To Know ran two lovely races and I don't think he was quite right in the Challow Hurdle. He's been given plenty of time and seems to have come to the boil very nicely. I'd expect him to run a big race back in grade and in his own comfort zone."

Neither Followcato nor As Legends Have It has won over hurdles but Pauling has plenty of faith in both of them.

"Followcato has got plenty of ability but his jumping has let him down and when he gets to the front I don't know if he thinks he's done enough or he's just a big, green baby," the trainer said.

" A good, strong gallop will suit him and he'll run a nice race. He should be suited by the track.

"As Legends Have It has run three nice races. He's another with the right sort of profile and wouldn't be out of it if he gets in."

The final has gone to future multiple Grade 1 winners such as Albertas Run and Crambo since it was first run in 1998 and Pauling said: "Mine are four nice horses who are going to be nice novice chasers next season and I hope they can do themselves justice."

EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (1.50 Sandown, Saturday)

William Hill: 4-1 Belliano, Meetmebythesea, The Kemble Brewery, 6 George's Lad, 10 C'Est Different, 12 It's Hard To Know, Laurens Bay, 14 bar

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