Former top juvenile Peace And Co set for first run over fences

2.20 Hexham
Bet toteplacepot Novices' Chase | 1m7½f | 5yo+ | ATR

Peace And Co, the dominant juvenile of the 2014-15 season and winner of the Triumph Hurdle that March, will make his debut over fences at Hexham on Sunday.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned six-year-old has found life tough since his glittering juvenile campaign, slipping from a mark of 159 to 144 in five stuttering starts, most recently in the Swinton Hurdle last month.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said on Saturday: "He seemed in very good form when he set off this morning. We had a delayed season over hurdles last year, for varied reasons, and it's difficult to see where we can go with him with his handicap mark."

Of the French-bred's suitability for chasing, Henderson said: "He's a big, strong horse so he should take to it. He's schooled nicely at home and Daryl [Jacob, jockey] has been very pleased with him.

"This will tell us where we are with him and where we go next, whether to go back over hurdles or stick with it."

Peace And Co will inevitably be sent off at cramped odds against his four rivals. Mount Beckham and Vic's Last Stand are both rated around the 110 mark over fences, while For Yes appeared to run to that sort of level on his rules debut earlier in the month. The 81-rated Here Comes Love completes the line-up.