12.40pm Sandown

Balkeo
He looks to have had some fair placed form in France last summer and has been with us for a while. Obviously, he makes his debut for us here after a long break – during which he has had his wind done – but he takes the eye at home, including physically, and hopefully he can play a prominent role here in a race we have won a couple of times recently. For all the race has cut up to just seven runners, it looks a very decent contest, with Shallwehaveonemore the form horse, so let’s see.

2.20pm Sandown

Mister Coffey
We obviously face two 150+-rated novices in here in Pic D’Orhy and L’Homme Presse, so we are up against it. But these races need supporting, it is excellent money for the places, so we take our chance. He is a course winner who we have always thought a fair bit of, and he is progressing well over fences judged on his Kempton second off a mark of 137 on Boxing Day. Conditions look ideal for him, but of course he does need to progress again to be in the shake-up here. He is heading in the right direction, though.