Nicky Henderson duo in Elite Hurdle field

Nicky Henderson has a strong hand in the Unibet Elite Hurdle, with classy novice We Have A Dream and Verdana Blue lining up in the Grade Two event at Wincanton on Saturday.

Both have sound chances, although We Have A Dream has been absent since winning the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree in April while Verdana Blue is fresh from a recent Listed success at Kempton.

Henderson is praying there is not a lot of rain for Verdana Blue.

"She wants the ground like concrete, and I must be the only person in Britain that doesn't want too much rain!" he said.

"The reason we didn't go up to Wetherby last week is that we have already won our Listed race this season, so we didn't see much point in doing that. We thought we would be brave and pray it doesn't rain too much, and go for the Grade Two.

"This has been the plan since she won at Kempton. She has been in great form since."

Jockey Daryl Jacob is excited at We Have A Dream making his return.

"It's brilliant to get We Have A Dream back out," he told www.sportinglife.com.

"Nicky Henderson had him ready to run a few weeks ago, but we've just been waiting for the ground to turn and we need to get him out now.

"He's ready. This is a new chapter for him, and we know how tough it can be for four-year-olds turning five.

"He does have questions to answer, stepping up against the big boys, but I hope he can deal with it. He's an exciting horse."

Alan King is hoping Redicean will reap the benefit of having had a comeback run over hurdles two weeks ago.

"He ran well at Cheltenham, and he looks in good order, so I hope he will come on for it," said King.

"He will need to come on for it, but I hope he will. It was pleasing, and he seems to have taken that race well.

"Wincanton should suit him, because it is a sharp track."

Evan Williams is hoping John Constable can show some of his old sparkle, after a spell chasing appears to have dampened his enthusiasm.

The seven-year-old showed smart form in 2017, winning Haydock's Swinton Hurdle and the Summer Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen as well as taking on the likes of Buveur D'Air later on.

However, he was soundly beaten in both his races over fences during the summer and then again over hurdles at Market Rasen in September.

"The reality is I don't think that spell chasing has helped him at all," said Williams.

"It's done anything but that.

"It's a race that on his best form you'd like to think he'd be competitive in, but he's been a long way off that the last few runs.

"He needs to recapture some of that enthusiasm, because he doesn't look the same horse he did within the last 12 months.

"He's grand at home and he's fresh, but I need to see a bit of sparkle on the track."

With John Constable's regular partner Adam Wedge suspended, Williams snapped up champion jockey Richard Johnson for the ride.

"Adam (Wedge) is banned, Richard Johnson was available, so you can't leave him in the changing rooms - he's a remarkable jockey," said the Llancarfan trainer.

If The Cap Fits won all three of his novice hurdles in the first half of last season but has not seen action since Boxing Day.

The six-year-old is one of two runners from the Harry Fry stable, along with seasoned campaigner Air Horse One.

Robert Walford's Smaoineamh Alainn completes the seven-strong field.

Rest of Wincanton preview

Paul Nicholls reports Present Man to be in prime condition ahead of his bid to repeat last year's success in the Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday.

The eight-year-old carried 10st 9lb when victorious last November but is burdened with top weight this time round, although he is only 2lb higher in the ratings as he attempts to emulate Swansea Bay, who took this prize in 2002 and 2003.

"Present Man won the race last year and is 2lb higher this year," said Nicholls.

"He won it on soft last year, although he does like better ground, so it should be ideal for him. He seems in good shape at home."

Nicholls is pitching El Bandit in at the deep end on what is his first start since he made a winning debut over fences in May 2017.

"El Bandit has been off for a year. He just got a bit jarred up after Warwick, but he is OK now," he said.

"He is not a novice so I can't do anything else with him. We have done quite a lot with El Bandit at home, but it is quite hard when they have been off for a year and only had one run over fences. It is a good starting point for him."

Nicholls has a third string to his bow in Captain Buck's, who was third over the course and distance behind Aunty Ann, who re-opposes.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is two-handed with recent course and distance winner Bigbadjohn and Belmount.

"Bigbadjohn won there last time so he knows his way round. He has a bit more to do this time," said the Naunton handler.

"He had a run at Exeter just the other day and was only beaten a head. He'll be going up the handicap so we thought we'd give him another chance."

Nicholls is looking forward to giving Secret Investor his first run over fences in the Jockey Club Ownership Syndicate 'Rising Stars' Novices' Chase.

The six-year-old made a successful return to action in the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow last month, having had wind surgery since winning his previous start at Kempton in May.

"He won the Persian War last time and this seemed an obvious race to run him in first time over fences," said the Ditcheat handler.

"I was going to go chasing straight away, but I forgot he was a novice (over hurdles) until November 1 and the Persian War was an obvious race to try to win.

"He has already won a point-to-point so he should be fine. He is a big horse that has just taken a bit of time to develop.

"We tweaked his wind in the summer and it seemed to improve him a bit. We are fine and happy with him and he has done everything right."

His four rivals are headed by Harry Fry's Bags Groove, who got off the mark over fences at Ffos Las last month.

Emma Lavelle's Majestic Moll made a winning chasing debut at Worcester a month ago while Neil Mulholland's Full has experience over the larger obstacles. Tim Vaughan's chasing newcomer Theligny completes the quintet.