Bristol De Mai heads Sandown Contenders

Views from connections ahead of the Betfred "Keep It Fun" Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

Exciting juvenile Bristol De Mai is pitched in against his elders for the first time in a fascinating Betfred "Keep It Fun" Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

A winner at Auteuil for multiple French champion trainer Guillaume Macaire, the four-year-old grey made a scintillating British debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies in the Future Champions Finale Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas.

Bristol De Mai is the second favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with his owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede also responsible for the red-hot market leader Peace And Co, trained by Nicky Henderson.

Connections are keen to get this latest test out of the way before discussing future plans.

The owners' racing advisor, Anthony Bromley, said: "It's an ambitious entry and although it's only a small field, it is a strong race.

"He is an exciting prospect and this will tell us a lot more about where we're going with him for the rest of the season."

Bristol De Mai will certainly face a thorough examination, with tough-as-teak handicapper Garde La Victoire and talented novice Jollyallan in opposition.

The Philip Hobbs-trained Garde La Victoire won Cheltenham's Greatwood Hurdle back in November and has since run up to his mark in The Ladbroke and the Holloway's Hurdle at Ascot.

Jockey Richard Johnson said: "There are a couple of good novices in against him, but he's obviously a hardened handicapper now and hopefully that will stand him in good stead

"He's been in great form all season and hopefully he has a good chance."

Jollyallan has won four of his five starts under Rules for Harry Fry, his only defeat coming when sixth in the equivalent of the Champion Bumper at last season's Punchestown Festival.

He completed a hat-trick over hurdles in the colours of JP McManus in some style at Kempton on Boxing Day and Fry is looking forward to getting him back on the track.

He said: "We were keen to give him another run after Boxing Day and potentially before going to Cheltenham.

"It's his first run out of novice company and it will be a good test. Garde La Victoire sets a good standard and Bristol De Mai is a Grade One-winning juvenile getting all the allowances.

"Our horse is very much a work in progress, but hopefully he's improving all the time, he's on an upward curve and going in the right direction.

"He'll certainly need to be for tomorrow and going forward to bigger targets in the spring."

A small but select field of four runners is completed by Gary Moore's likely outsider Flute Bowl.