Grand Sancy has 'massive chance' in Laurina Scilly Isles clash says Nicholls

Betway Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (Grade 1) | 5yo+ | 2m4f | ITV4/RTV

Willie Mullins hasn't had a runner in the Scilly Isles since Gitane De Berlais made all and bolted up by eight lengths five years ago, so Sandown gave Laurina a big welcome when she arrived at the track on Friday morning to bid for Ireland's second win in the race.

Gitane De Berlais' overall record suggests she was a significantly less gifted mare than Laurina, but the Scilly Isles usually takes plenty of winning, as the last two results underline, with Defi Du Seuil beating Lostintranslation last year for the first of four Grade 1 chase wins to date, and Terrefort beating Cyrname the year before.

Laurina has to put behind her not only last year's somewhat underwhelming fourth in the Champion Hurdle, for which she started second favourite but, more pertinently, December's disappointing effort in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown, where she was pulled up after making mistakes and found afterwards to have bled.

Her easy win at Gowran Park on her chasing debut showed she has what it takes to win good races over fences, and Mullins said: "The soft ground will suit and so will the longer trip. If she produces what she is capable of and jumps better she should give a good account."

Willie Mullins: 'If Laurina produces what she is capable of and jumps better she should give a good account'Credit: Patrick McCann

Terrefort was a fifth winner of the decade for Nicky Henderson, who this time relies on Champagne Platinum, while the previous decade belonged to Paul Nicholls, with four successive wins from 2006 to 2009. Nicholls saddles last season's Kingwell Hurdle winner Grand Sancy and gives him a big chance at decent odds.

Key stat

Nicky Henderson has been the trainer to follow after five winners from only seven runners in the last decade, but Champagne Platinum looks set to go off the rank outsider and none of the stable's winners started longer than 11-4. Three of them were odds-on.

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Champagne Platinum
He's moving up in trip and I think that will help him as he was staying on well last time. He schooled nicely on Friday morning and I don't think the tacky ground will be a problem.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Good Boy Bobby
I think he has a very good chance. We haven't seen the best of him yet and two and a half miles is going to help. He jumps well and he's nearly always been first or second, so he's got plenty going for him.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Grand Sancy
He's probably the highest rated of these over hurdles bar Laurina and I think he's got a massive chance. He made his debut over fences in a Grade 1 here and ran okay, and then he ran all right again in another good race at Kempton, where he showed he obviously needs two and a half miles now. He'll love the ground and I think he's a very big price for the chance he's got.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Itchy Feet
Laurina will be hard to beat if she comes back to form but Itchy Feet has a good each-way chance. He had a nice introduction at Leicester and the trip will suit him well. He's in good form.

Sue Smith, trainer of Midnight Shadow
There have been no hitches in the build-up and his schooling and work have all gone well, so he goes to Sandown in very good order. He ought to run a big race.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Vision Des Flos
He won a two-horse race over almost three miles last time but I think two and a half miles is his ideal trip. He deserves to take his chance in this race as he is a solid 150-rated horse and we might think about one of the handicaps at Cheltenham next month.

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