Webber Ace On Course For Tolworth

Paul Webber's De Soto heads a high-class list of 12 entries for the Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

Won in recent years by the likes of French Holly, Monsignor and last season's subsequent Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Noland, the race has a good record of finding future stars.

De Soto, a top performer in his bumper season, is finally fulfilling his potential over obstacles and took a decent contest at Kempton on St Stephen's Day in good style when ridden by Richard Johnson for the first time.

'We'll have a look and see what the race is going to be like, but he seems to have come out of the Kempton race in very good form,' Webber said.

'He has come out of it so well that we thought it made sense to have another go with him before the weather gets even worse.

'We were thrilled with him the other day. He's a very laid-back fellow and he only just does enough.

'If Richard is available we would love him to stick with the horse.

'We hope he is finally living up to the potential that we always thought he had. We had to be patient with him last year when there were lots of niggly things that kept him off the track, but he has grown into a stronger horse.

'As far as the rest of the season goes I am not really sure, we will just take it one step at a time and we will see what happens after that.'

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will bid for back-to-back victories in the Grade One contest with Silverburn.

'He is very well, he is the sort of horse you want to keep fresh but he definitely runs on Saturday,' said the Ditcheat handler.

(C) PA Sport