It's very special," said Williams, whose young daughter Betsy was recently diagnosed with leukaemia. Sandown 3.25 It was a tough ask for Harper’s Brook to make the running in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival time and he was lit up by first-time cheekpieces too before being pulled up two out. The headgear is off this time and his earlier form this season gives Ben Pauling’s novice a big chance. All runners were in contention at the end of the first two of three circuits with Manothepeople and Lord Accord sharing pacemaking duties with Undersupervision, Ruthless Article and Threeunderthrufive in the next rank with Flash Collonges getting a clear sight of his fences on the outside.

Sandown 1.05 Arqoob has progressed steadily since switching from the Flat to hurdles this season and his jumping went up another notch on his handicap debut at Newbury last month. The winner there followed up next time and Lucy Wadham’s gelding is an interesting 12-1 shot off the same mark. He loves fast ground and I think that’s the key to him, his jumping stands up then. I don’t know how he won at Newcastle, he didn’t jump one fence and still won the race, so it goes to show that there’s something a bit different inside of him.” Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Mojo Star features among the 11 entries in the colours of Amo Racing, who will also send out Listed winner Magical Sunset in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes ( 2.05 ). Ellis Collier will probably ride him, the owner (The Can’t Say No Partnership) likes to give young people a chance and we’d like to have him next year in the big races. The only way to give him experience is to give him rides. All of the leading market principles for the Grade 2 contest remained in contention including Tolworth third Nemean Lion , who scored at this level in Kelso's Premier Novices' Hurdle last month, and Morebattle runner-up Colonel Mustard . Scottish Grand National confirmationsMonbeg Genius , who finished third behind Corach Rambler at the Cheltenham Festival, also remains in contention for this weekend's feature contest for Jonjo O'Neill, with fellow Ultima runners Oscar Elite and Threeunderthrufive also confirmed.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133. He’s a brilliant little horse. All the stats said he couldn’t win with his age and this and that, but he’s a freak so I didn’t take much notice.

More from Sporting Life

It’s been tough but Kitty has been a flagship horse here for the last two years and winning the Scottish National was a massive boost for everyone, so it was a very emotional day.”

Nicholls is now one away from matching the record of 15-time champion trainer Martin Pipe, and broke his own record for prize money. It looked like he was better than ever at the weekend. He jumped and travelled well. I always think he runs okay at Sandown as well - Paul Nicholls thought he should have won the race (with Enrilo in 2021) when they reversed the result and we thought we should have won it too!

Williams reports his charge to be in fine fettle before the weekend, while the race sponsors rate Kitty's Light as the 4-1 favourite for the 3m 5f contest.

Kitty’s Light secured the big-race victory he has long promised with a determined display in the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle. I think she just comes right at this time of year and Kitty’s Light is similar. You can’t not run them through the winter, Kitty’s Light went to Kempton three times this year and we had some wonderful days there watching him run in the royal box in big races. You’re getting beaten but he’s a racehorse and he’s bought to run so we like to run them.” The Christian Williams-trained Kitty's Light was unfortunate not to land the 2021 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown after controversial finish and he has since been placed in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, the Coral Trophy at Kempton, the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and the bet365 Gold Cup for a second time. At Punchestown, Echoes In Rain won the Mares Champion Hurdle while Lossiemouth took the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle as trainer Willie Mullins ended the week with nine victories from the 12 Grade One races. It's been tough but Kitty has been a flagship horse here for the last two years and winning the Scottish National was a massive boost for everyone, so it was a very emotional day."Frodon made much of the early running but faded under top weight, and Kitty's Light jumped the last upsides Moroder before powering up the hill.