'She's in the best form we've had her' - Saturday's notable trainer quotes

Saturday's action could be full of very late Cheltenham Festival clues in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.25) as well as pointers towards the start of the Flat turf season at the end of the month with the MansionBet Lincoln Trial Handicap (2.05). Read on for the day's most revealing quotes.

Saturday's racecards | Big-race tips

European Breeders' Fund Paddy Power "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Grade 3) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Knappers Hill:

"Knappers Hill ran very well at Newbury. He's been crying out for a step up to two and a half miles and good to soft ground will be perfect for him."

Overnight price: 7-2

MansionBet Lincoln Trial Handicap (Class 2) | 1m½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Clive Cox, trainer of Dance Fever:

"I hope this will give him a good lead into the turf season. He's entered in the Lincoln, but it would have to be dry enough to run him at Doncaster – he's still a high-class performer when he gets his conditions as he showed in the International at Ascot last summer."

Overnight price: 14-1

Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Balco Coastal:

"Our feeling was at Cheltenham he came to win his race and you thought he was going to win at the last, but it looked to us like he didn't stay. The plan was always to come back to two miles. He's a sharp horse. A sharp-run two miles on a stiff track should be ideal."

Overnight price: 4-1

3.00 Sandown
British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) | 2m | 4-6yo fillies and mares | ITV4/RTV

Milton Harris, trainer of Mullenbeg:

"She's a different horse now to when she went to Cheltenham. She's working much better than she's ever worked. I'd be very optimistic. She's in the best form we've had her."

Overnight price: 11-8

3.35 Sandown
Paddy Power Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) | 2m4f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Scene Not Heard:

I'd like to hope Scene Not Herd will jump great round Sandown.

"It's the right race for him – and particularly as only six have been declared. He's stepping up in class, but this has always been his spring target. It's a £50,000 race and everything looks perfect for him."

Overnight price: 3-1

Saturday's race previews:

Henderson believes conditions will prove ideal for hot favourite Balco Coastal

'He's been crying out for a step up' - quotes and analysis on the EBF Final

'One step at a time' for highly progressive four-year-old La Tihaty

'She's a different horse now to when she won at Cheltenham'

'This is the right race' - Longsdon bullish about talented Scene Not Herd

View the latest runners and riders using ourCheltenham Festival racecards, and get the experts'Cheltenham Festival tipsall in one place.