Suny Bay, runner-up in the Grand National in each of the last two seasons, makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the feature race at Haydock Park tomorrow.

Formerly trained by the now-retired Charlie Brooks, the popular grey will be having his first run for new handler Simon Sherwood in the £40,000 Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chase, which has attracted a high-class field.

Although he lacks a previous outing this season, Suny Bay is a horse who runs particularly well when fresh, and his supporters will be comforted by the fact that he won this race last year on his seasonal debut.

Graham Bradley, who miraculously escaped injury in a crashing fall at Cheltenham last Saturday, takes his usual place aboard Suny Bay.

All eyes will be on this fascinating contest, which has also attracted See More Business, a prolific winner last season when his victories included the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Paul Nicholls' charge was strongly fancied to follow-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but was carried out of the race by another horse at an early fence.

There will be no fitter horse in tomorrow's field than Strath Royal, who has already had two outings this season. Owen Brennan's tough and consistent stalwart pulled-off a shock victory in last months Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Valedictory will take all the beating in the Hindly Green Handicap Hurdle.

Lorcan Wyer's mount cruised home five lengths clear of his rivals at Kelso nine days ago and would have doubled his winning margin had he not been eased before the line. A 6lb penalty may not anchor him tomorrow.

Becca's Rose has plenty going for her in the Newton-Le-Willows Police Mres Only Novices' Hurdle.

Ferdy Murphy's charge, a winning point-to-pointer in Ireland, made a successful British debut in a bumper at Carlisle recently. She is expected to provide Paul Carberry with a winning ride.

At Kempton, Mr Strong Gale is napped to make it two out of two this season in the Limber Hill Handicap Chase. Paul Nicholls' charge made a successful return to action at Sandown recently when beating Just For Fun by one and a half lengths.

Andrew Thornton, rider of Mr Strong Gale, can also score on North Kilkenny in the 'Book Now For Boxing Day' Novices' Chase.

Tony McCoy was handed an 18-day suspension and told to attend the British Racing School in Newmarket for coaching on his use of the whip when he appeared before the Jockey Club's Disciplinary Committee for using excessive force on Bamapour in a claiming hurdle last Monday.

TOMORROW'S TIPS

HAYDOCK PARK

1.20 Gentle Rivage

1.50 The Eens

2.20 Bann View

2.50 Suny Bay

3.20 Becca's Rose

3.55 Valedictory

KEMPTON

1.05 Happy Medium

1.40 North Kilkenny

2.10 Jet Specials

2.40 Mr Strong Gale (NAP)

3.10 Strong Paladin

3.45 Coh Sho No

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