NICKY HENDERSON'S stable came right back to form during last week's Cheltenham Festival, a trend all set to continue at Hereford courtesy of Cunning Pursuit. (Hereford, 3.10).

Having made a winning debut over jumps at Wincanton in December, punters took due note and steamed into Henderson's horse on his Taunton handicap bow, eventually pushing Cunning Pursuit's starting price down to 7-2 favourite despite an obvious lack of inexperience.

Although he failed to justify the heavy market support, Henderson's raider still ran a fine race in defeat to chase home Space Star. Now back in less competitive company for the Bell Construction Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, Cunning Pursuit should make it two-from-three in the £5,500 contest.

After being pulled up on her last couple of outings, Richard Price's mare, Lilac (2.10), appears at first glance to have lost the plot for the time being.

But Price is not the type of guy to give up easily and in an attempt to rejuvenate Lilac, he took her for a spin on the Flat at Wolverhampton over the weekend.

Admittedly she finished in next to last place, but the outing might have the effect of bucking up her ideas, in which case Lilac could turn out to be a long shot worth supporting for the Weatherbys Conditional Handicap Hurdle.

Charles Cyzer used to be force to be reckoned with on the sand, however his yard's fortunes have waned to the extent where he struggles to train even a handful of winners nowadays.

Perhaps one of his inmates capable of staging a much-needed revival is Southwell-bound Establishment, a game eight-year-old with something left to offer judged on a promising comeback outing when fourth following a 24-week break from action.

Establishment (3.30) will have blown a good few cobwebs from his lungs after that run and using collateral form from two years previous as a yardstick, has the perfect profile to claim the two-mile Spot The Ball Handicap.

Leave the opener at Lingfield to Larad (2.20), who has been found an excellent opportunity to get back in the winners' enclosure by trainer Stan Moore.

Late last year Larad reeled off a money spinning four-timer on the all-weather circuit, as a result of which the four-year-old inevitably shifted significantly up the ratings to a point where he found life far more difficult.

Moore's response has been to raise his charge in distance from a mile-and-a-quarter to 13 furlongs - a change of plan designed to help Larad to get his head back in front.

While the switch has yet to come to fruition, the selection has gone close on his latest couple of starts and looks to be a leading for contender for the Amateur Riders' Handicap on the polytrack at the Surrey venue.

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