LiveScore Racing News: Hanlon eyes Sandown to get Skyace back on track

Trainer John Hanlon is bringing Skyace over from Ireland to race at Sandown on Saturday in a bid to get her back on the winning trail.

The seven-year-old looked to have a big future over hurdles last April when coming across the line to win the Grade One Irish Novice Hurdle Championship at Fairyhouse, beating Gauloise by half a length. 

However, her last four races have not gone well and she has stumbled in her progress. She fell at Punchestown in May in another Grade One race before being pulled up at Galway in July. 

In November, she finished last of four in the Fairyhouse Hurdle before trailing Honeysuckle badly later that month in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. 

Hanlon decided against racing Skyace over Christmas and has instead waited for this Saturday to run her next, when she is due to line up in the Listed Mares Hurdle at Sandown. 

Hanlon believes the drop down in class will provide a good opportunity for Skyace to build some confidence as she aims to return to form.

He said: "She's doing well. All roads lead to Sandown at the minute. I just hope the ground doesn't get any softer. 

"If they got a lot of rain over there we might not run, but at the moment we're definitely running. 

"She's pleased me again. After she had that fall I wanted to give her a couple of nice runs. I got one into her in a four-horse race and the last day she was outclassed. 

"When you take on Honeysuckle you're in trouble, so we just gave her a nice run round and she's back in her own class now. 

"The big problem over here is that there are no races to suit her. Over Christmas, there wasn't anything and this race is ideal for her, so we'll be heading over the sea."