Sandown today

assuming that racing goes ahead, there are some treats in store, notably with the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle for novices at 15.40 CET. 6 runners, all of whom have good recent winning form, and Paul Nicholls, who has won this race for the last 3 years, is confident that he can take it again with Mahonia (Ruby Walsh), who was surprisingly beaten last time at Cheltenham. However the opposition, headed by Nick Gifford´s Dee ee Williams (Liam Treadwell) and Nicky Henderson´s Clay Hollister (Tony McCoy) looks very tough. Nicholls and Walsh can also go close with top-weight New Litle Bric in the 3 miles handicap chase at 15.10, although the concession of 24 lbs to Venetia Williams´ Zacharova (Aidan Coleman) could be beyond him. An interesting runner in the 2 mile handicap chase at 16.15 is Foreman, who in his varied career has been trained in Germany, France and Ireland and is now having his first run for Jonjo O´Neill. However it is significant that stable jockey Tony McCoy prefer s to partner Boomshakalaka for Nicky Henderson; once again venetia Williams and Aidan Coleman provide the main danger in bottom-weight Lorient Express. German-bred United (Lucy Wadham/ Dominic Elsworth) made an excellent comeback at Haydock recently, and a repetition of that form should see her take the listed mares´ hurdle at 14.00.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: United - Shatabdi - Blaeberry
2.Race: Helium - Stow - Silk Hall
3.Race: Zacharova - Cresswell Willow - Out The Black
4.Race: Dee Ee Williams - Mahonia - Clay Hollister
5.Race: Medicinal - Lorient Express - Boomshakalaka
6.Race: Night Cru - Olympian - Hernando Royal