Good N.H. cards at Sandown and Exeter

Some good jumping today, although the fields at Sandown are very small, with normal each-way betting possible in only one race. Main feature here is the Grade Two novice hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 14.55 CET, the best race of its type this season so far. The field includes Fingal Bay (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) and Simonsig (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), currently the 2 favourites for the big novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Fingal Bay is clearly the one to beat on form, and was especially impressive when winning at Cheltenham despite a bad mistake, but Simonsig looks an exciting prospect after winning his only U.K, start with the greatest of ease. It is by no means two horse race either, as both Jump City (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), a very easy Exeter winner, and Irish challenger Sizing Symphony (Harry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch), who has won his last 3 races, are also potentially very smart. Definitely a race to watch rather than bet on.

Main supporting feature is the listed chase over 3 miles at 15.30, where Irish Grade One winner Bostons Angel (Jessica Harrington/ Robbie Power), who fell at Down Royal last time, has to concede weight to Royal Charm (Nicholls/ Walsh) and Quinz (Hobbs/ Johnson). According to official ratings, Quinz is best in here, but we hope that Bostons Angel is up to the task. The opening 3yo hurdle at 13.50 is a very poor race by Sandown standards, but we are interested in Malanos (Tony Carroll/ Lee Edwards), who has an excellent German pedigree and is a half-brother to Diana winner Mystic Lips. He won a desperate affair at Leicester last time, but today´s opposition looks no stronger.

The fields are bigger at Exeter, although only 6 line up for the main event, a novice chase at 14,.00. Notus de la Tour (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) should win this after winning his last 2 races in good style, but he faces strong opposition from Walkon (Alan King/ Robert Thornton), a one time Grade One winner over hurdles and Zaynar (Nick Williams/ Tony McCoy). The last-named looked a star when winning his first 5 races for Nicky Henderson, but has struggled a bit since, though racing meinly in top company. He was third last time to Grands Crus at Cheltenham, which is certainly no disgrace, and can possibly get back on the winning trail here.

The Devon Marathon, a 4 mile handicap chase at 14.30 looks a minefield for punters, as none of the 13 runners has any worthwhile form at the distance, and most of them have never rven tried it. Our 3 against the field are Shaking Hands (Pipe/ Scudamore), front-runner Power Pack Tack (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) and Diamond Brook (Nick Williams/ James Reveley) but best advice is probably to leave the race alone.