IT will be tough going under tough conditions at Sandown this afternoon. It usually is for this meeting, the Scilly Isles Chase meeting. Conditions were so tough in 2012 that they didn’t race, and they were so tough in 2013 and 2014 that they didn’t race on the hurdles track.

Consequently, toughness and stamina and an ability to handle soft ground are attributes that are going to be crucial in the Heroes Handicap Hurdle this afternoon. So is a light weight. Not that a light weight is an attribute, but it is going to be important, according to history anyway.