'Small fish' Sarah-Jayne Davies out to make a splash against jumps powerhouses

Kempton's first jumps meeting of the season on Sunday features plenty of household names with Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Nigel Twiston-Davies and Philip Hobbs represented with runners, but one not-so-familiar face is also hoping to make an impact.

In Higgs, who contests the Matchbook-sponsored Listed novice hurdle (3.05), Sarah-Jayne Davies has the biggest runner of her career and is confident there is more to come from the son of Scorpion.

Owned by Paul Sandy, David Bass's mount won a pair of novice hurdles at Newton Abbot in the spring and faces opposition from the powerhouse Nicholls and Hobbs operations.

Watch Higgs win at Newton Abbot in May

"It's a big day for us," said Davies, who has a string of 20 at her Herefordshire yard.

"I've never run above a Class 2 before so a Class 1 Listed hurdle is quite a big deal for a little yard like us that's getting going. I'm nervous about it because I feel like a small fish in a big pond, but we've got our own property and 200 acres, so there's no reason we couldn't be the next Jackdaws Castle with a bit of luck and success."

The 42-year-old, a former point-to-point trainer who got her full licence in 2012, added: "The owner of Higgs has been brilliant and is a massive supporter of us. He really wants to get me a horse to get on the map because you have to have the horses, so it's thanks to him."

Davies, who partnered a dozen point winners but did not start riding until she was 28, employs just three full-time staff, who will no doubt be buoyed should their stable star produce the goods.

"He's beaten two Paul Nicholls favourites, so has earned his right to have a go, but his rivals have fitness on us," Davies said. "Because the ground's been so quick and there hasn't been the right race, he hasn't had a run, but he's as fit as a flea.

"We always thought he'd want better ground. He ran a good race at Warwick on testing ground in March, although the jockey didn't think it was ideal.

"He'd probably be the best horse I've trained and has the most potential. He's a typical Scorpion, so he's not the most straightforward and is highly strung, but he's got an engine.

"He's still green and learning. He's a light-framed athletic type and I wanted to avoid a double penalty and the only way to do that was run in a race like this. We think a lot of him, but he's not the finished article and we all think he'll make a smashing novice chaser in time."

Nicholls, who has won the last two runnings of the race, fields Grand Sancy, a winner at Chepstow last week.

He said: "It's a quick turnaround, but he's fresh and well and in good shape. He won't mind the ground, won well last week and escapes a penalty so we thought we'd have a go."

Watch Old Guard beat San Benedeto last year

The multiple champion trainer is also represented in the Listed Matchbook VIP Hurdle (4.10), the £40,000 feature on Kempton's card.

He runs last year's 1-2 Old Guard and San Benedeto and added: "They ran in this last year en route to other things and it's the same this year, but it's a bit tougher this time. They're fit and well, but have targets coming up.

"Old Guard might go for the Grade 2 hurdle at Wetherby in a fortnight if it's good ground and San Benedeto will go for the Haldon Gold Cup.

"San Benedeto is 6lb better off with Old Guard from last year's race, but it's a prep race and it's a lovely place to start."

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