Exeter and Sandown

today´s action is all in the south of England, with both Exeter and Sandown having strong N.H. cards, while there is all-weather flat racing at Lingfield, as well as this evening at Wolverhampton and Dundalk (Ireland).
There are some smart performers racing at Sandown, but the fields are very small and only 5 line up for the main event, a Grade Two novice hurdle at 14.55 CET. Four of them are unbeaten this season, including Vyta du Roc (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), but he has 3 lbs extra for winning a similar race at Cheltenham last time. Ordo Ab Chao (Alan King/ Denis O´Regan) and Shantou Bob (Warren Greatrex/ Gavin Sheehan) both look distinctly useful, but at these weights our choice is the mare Tara Point (Paul Nicholls/ Sam Twiston-Davies). Trainer and jockey can complete a quick double ijn the next race, a listed chase over 3 mjiles, with Black Thunder, who has to concede weight but is also clear best on ratings. Each way betting is barely possible here., but we like Howlongisafoot (Nicholls/ Twiston-Davies) at 14.30 and Net Work Rouge (Kim Bailey/ Jason Maguire) at 16.30.
The fields are bigger at Exeter and it is interesting that some of the top jockeys are here, notably AP McCoy and Richard Johnson. McCoy´s main reason is to partner Jonjo O´Neill´s American Legend in the Devon Marathon over 4 miles at 16.20. He has a chance, but this is a very tricky race with several runners moving up in distance, and the drying ground also a factor to be considered. Johnson rides top-weight Benbane Head for Martin Keighley, while his trainer Philip Hobbs saddles the lightweight Milosam with Tom O´Brien aboard. For Hobbs, Johnson partners Horizontal Speed in the hot novice chase at 14.10 and the penalised Hello George in the novice hurdle at 15.15 and both come on the short list. Paul Nicholls also has runners here and he can take the handicap chase at 14.40 with Wilton Milan (Jack Sherwood), a winner without a penalty as he runs off the same mark as when easily winning at Newbury last week with the same claimer in the saddle.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Baraka De Thaix - Baron Alco - Bivouac
2. Race: In Fairness - Howlongisafoot - Panama Petrus
3. Race: Vyta Du Roc - Tara Point - Shantou Bob
4. Race: Corrin Wood - Dare To Endeavour - Rocky Bender
5. Race: Ballyallia Man - Coolking - Handy Andy
6. Race: Theinval - Jayo Time - As De Mee