NICKY Henderson’s possible Champion Hurdle challenger Peace And Co was again disappointing at Sandown on Saturday. Sent off at 4/7 to account for three rivals in the Listed Betfred Contenders Hurdle, he could manage only third, beaten a neck and two lengths by Connetable and Rayvin Black.

The winner is only four and was therefore in receipt of a stone from the red-hot favourite. On the other hand Rayvin Black, a classy upgraded hurdler of Oliver Sherwood’s, was receiving only 4lb. As it stands, this form means little where the Champion Hurdle is concerned.

Rayvin Black led and opened up a handy advantage before Thomas Garner steadied him, allowing Connetable and Sam Twiston-Davies to close up with three to jump. Connetable established a narrow advantage at the last but ballooned it and Rayvin Black joined issue again, only to go down by a narrow margin.

Peace And Co was close enough turning for home but found little for pressure. The new bit and ear plugs helped him settle but he lacked sparkle.

“Connetable is a mirror of Zarkandar because he is so laid back and you can see him in staying races next year,’’ winning trainer Paul Nicholls said.

“It’s also worth noting that he was only a length and a half behind Footpad at Auteuil and that one has just won the Grade 1 juvenile at Leopardstown.’’

Connetable and Footpad can both be backed at around 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle. Henderson is still optimistic where last year’s Triumph runner-up is concerned:

“He behaved well, jumped well and travelled well. He needs to improve and he will do,’’ he said.

ARTHUR’S OAK OBLIGES

It is nothing new for Venetia Williams to supply Saturday winners but they are generally ‘a price’. Arthur’s Oak kept the run going but favourite backers were greatly relieved as the 6/4 shot just held Nicholls’ Ulck Du Lin by a nose in the two-mile Betfred Handicap Chase with Aidan Coleman at his strongest at Sandown.

The winner did well to recover from a late mistake and get back up on the climb to the line.

HOBBS WINNER

Philip Hobbs’ Saddlers Encore missed all of last season but the trainer has been patient and a fair run at Wincanton last time promised much. With Richard Johnson another to go for everything in the listed three-mile handicap hurdle, the seven-year-old got home at 5/1mat Sandown.

Runner-up Join The Clan, with young Paddy Cowley sporting J.P. McManus’ colours, was only just denied and looks tailor-made for the Pertemps Final, where the lad would still be able to claim.

Lucy Wadham’s Le Reve was backed down to 4/1 favourite to repeat last year’s victory in the Masters Handicap Chase in first-time blinkers. He duly obliged in the hands of Harry Skelton.