How respect for the Sandown hill shaped Cobden's finishing effort on Tahmuras

The Tolworth Hurdle is a proven stepping stone for future top-class performers and allows trainers a nice gap to Cheltenham.

However, the hurdle course at Sandown is something that needs to be experienced to really appreciate how tough that climb is, as well as how testing the ground can get. Only in doing so can you understand the type of horse you need, with a lot more guts required to get up the hill.

Gavin Sheehan set his stall out straight away on Colonel Harry and the jockeys behind would have been pleased to have something to take them along, though very mindful not to take the leader lightly.