Final destination for Ranjobaie

Ranjobaie is bang on target for Saturday’s EBF Paddy Power “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.

The five-year-old was snapped up by leading bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley after winning three bumpers in France and now runs in the colours of the Million In Mind Partnership for trainer Nicky Henderson.

He opened his account over hurdles when beating the smart Bygones Of Brid at Market Rasen last month and Bromley is looking forward to his weekend assignment.

“He’ll take his chance, all being well, and that has really been the plan for a while,” said Bromley.

“We ran him at Market Rasen last time to ensure he qualified for this and it was a pleasant surprise that he won.

“It was nice to see the second horse, Bygones Of Brid, coming out and winning so well at Kelso last weekend and we were a little worried that the handicapper might reassess our mark due to the collateral form.

“Thankfully we’ve stayed on 129, having gone up 9lb for winning last time.

“David Bass rode him last time and he does all the work on him at home, so he’ll be on again on Saturday.

“He rode the horse when he fell at Leicester earlier in the season but it wasn’t his fault as the horse just slipped on landing after the last and ever since then we said David could ride him in the final if we got there.

“He is entered in the conditional jockeys’ race (Martin Pipe) at Cheltenham next week but I’d say that’s unlikely and if he was did happen to win on Saturday we might look at one of the better novice races at Aintree.”