Mann Fixed on celebrating fine end to season with Rate

Charlie Mann has one chance to add to his tally for the season before the close of accounts on Saturday, relying on Fixed Rate in the bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle which opens proceedings on ITV at 1.50pm.

Despite being down on numbers Mann has enjoyed a successful campaign, his total of 23 winners being the best he has achieved since posting the same score in 2010.

"We haven't got many horses this year but the ones we've got have been running well and we need to buy a few more for next year," said Mann.

"We've had only 15 or 16 horses in but it's been a good year."

Formerly on the Flat in France with David Smaga, Fixed Rate is reunited with Harry Bannister – who is himself enjoying a fine end to the season – having scored under the same rider at Kempton 11 days ago.

"He has gone up 6lb for winning last week but Kempton wouldn't have suited him," said Mann.

"He needs a stiffer test over this trip and I think Sandown will suit him as it's more of a stayer's track. He's in good form, likes the better ground, so hopefully he has a good each-way chance."

Weights are headed by the new Nicky Henderson recruit, Call Me Lord, who showed a smart turn of foot to pull seven lengths clear of his rivals after the final flight at Compiegne in March.

The runner-up on then has since finished second in a Listed handicap at Auteuil, and Call Me Lord's new connections are wasting little time in exploring what they have on their hands.

"He's not been over from France very long and has been given an interesting handicap mark," said Henderson. "It's the last time we can run him this season and I wanted the chance to have a look at him. We'll be able to learn about him and that will help us a lot."

Henderson's championship pursuer Paul Nicholls relies on Dolos, who won at the rarely-recorded odds of 1-14 at Chepstow 12 days ago and is probably better judged on his two and a quarter-length defeat behind So Celebre at Ascot at the beginning of the month.

Nicholls said: "He’s been running well all year. We’re taking 3lb off as I think it can make a big difference and Stan [Sheppard] rode him well two starts ago. It’s a competitive race but he’s in with a chance."

Shantou Village was one of the most talked about novice chasers at the start of the season and, while things may not have progressed as Neil Mulholland might have hoped, he is likely to carry plenty of support in the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Chase at 4.45.

Given an autumn campaign to avoid testing ground, Shantou Village made his first two starts over fences winning ones before coming down at the last in Grade 2 company at Wincanton in November.

He threw in some extravagant leaps on his comeback at Fontwell 17 days ago and gets 5lb here from Royal Vacation, a Grade 1 horse even allowing for his somewhat fortuitous win in the Feltham at Kempton.

Shantou Village has the chance to scoop a decent prize at 4.45Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Brother Tedd was beaten ten lengths by Shantou Village at Cheltenham in October and is yet to win over fences, but he is feasibly weighted on the best of his hurdles form.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said: "It's a decent prize and we thought we’d have a go. It's competitive but it’s over the right trip for him and he did win over hurdles on this card a couple of years ago."