IT HAS been ten long and very quiet years since Pat Murphy saddled Supreme Glory to win the Welsh National, and today Murphy hopes Maktu can get him back in the limelight in the same race.

The nine-year-old is ridden by 3lb claimer Michael Murphy (no relation to the trainer), who has ridden the gelding to two victories from three starts.

His trainer has aimed Maktu at the race for the past two years. He has been careful not to rush the gelding into the heat of the battle too early and is very much looking forward to the race.

“Everything has gone well.

He’s fit, very well in himself and I won’t be looking for excuses,”

said Murphy.

“The ground is in his favour and he’s got a nice weight.

Over that sort of trip you are better off with 10st 6lb than 11st 6lb.

“I was always conscious of not rushing him but he’s the right age now. That’s why he has never had that many runs in his life. I’ve been saving him for this sort of race.

“This has been the plan for two years and it’s just nice to be getting there as so much can go wrong.

“He looks the right type. He stays, he gallops and so far he’s jumped pretty well. Like I said, I won’t be looking for excuses if he gets beaten, that’s for sure.”

The dangers among his 19 rivals include Synchronised, who bids to give champion jockey AP McCoy his first win in the prestigious race.

McCoy has won every race worth talking about apart from this one, and Synchronised is no stranger to big race glory himself as he was successful in last year’s Midlands Grand National.

Grand National winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill reports the eight-year-old is in fine shape, saying: “I couldn’t be happier with him.

“The only thing I’m not that happy about is that he’s gone up in the weights since he last ran over fences.

“One thing definitely in his favour will be the conditions – it really can’t be soft enough for him.

“When he won at Uttoxeter it was nearly unraceable so we know he goes on heavy and he jumps and he stays. It’s just the weight that could be the problem.”

Synchronised has had two runs over hurdles this season, and was noted staying on in eye-catching fashion at Cheltenham last month.

Sandown will have to pass a 7.30am inspection if they are to race this afternoon with substantial rain forecast.

The feature race, the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle, is very much quality rather than quantity.

Only five novices line-up in this contest and it is impossible to go against Toubab.

Trained by Paul Nicholls, Toubab bolted up in a similar race at Haydock last time out on testing ground and can take this on the way to the Cheltenham Festival.