Sussex trainer Gardie Grissell added another string to his Cheltenham bow when Real Value earned a trip back to the showpiece of National Hunt racing with success at Sandown.

The 10-year-old heads for the Kim Muir Chase in a bid to go one better at the festival than last year when he was touched off by Cavalero in a driving finish for the Foxhunters Chase.

It will be a tough assignment because the Kim Muir is always one of the three-day meeting's most competitive handicaps. But now Real Value is clearly back to form and on a winning handicap mark he will go there with a major chance.

The former winning point-to-pointer always jumps superbly and that was the case at Sandown where he comfortably defeated Sussex Grand National winner Lordberniebouffant, trained at Findon by Josh Gifford.

Real Value was just that for his four lengths success and he will now join his Brightling stable companion Maximus at the festival.

The eight-year-old Lordbernie-bouffant ran a good race in second. He looked to be a big danger on the run to the second last until being outpaced. The three-mile trip was probably on the short side for him and a step back up in distance will suit, possibly including a crack at Ayr's Scottish Grand National.

Another Gifford horse to fill the runners-up spot was Mr Percy who blundered his way to defeat at Ascot.

Sent off favourite, the 10-year-old novice chaser made a catalogue of jumping errors, including at the last, which ultimately cost him the race and handed victory to Bright November.

Mr Percy remains a 20-1 shot for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but will have to jump a good deal better to have any chance against the likes of Best Mate and Dusk Duel.

Sussex horse Kildorragh could also be festival bound after winning Fontwell's Foxhunters Trial on Monday.

The seven-year-old, trained at Billingshurst by Lawrence Wells who also has staying hurdler Audacter on course for Cheltenham, upset the odds-on Gunner Welburn by outstaying him on the run-in.

Back in third was Findon-based Nick Gifford's Nasone. The 10-year-old jumped really well and can pick up a hunter chase this season.