THIS year’s Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown has some tough acts to follow, the previous four runnings of the race throwing up winners of the calibre of L’Ami Serge, Yorkhill, Finian’s Oscar and Summerville Boy. The last named beat Kalashnikov 12 months ago before the pair went on to be first and second again in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The likelihood is that Elixir De Nutz – who beat Grand Sancy by half a length on Saturday – is not that good, but he is far from bad, either.