Red letter day for Nicky Henderson

With so many big meetings abandoned since Christmas, and less than a month and a half to go before the Cheltenham Festival, trainers are desperate to get their main prospects up and running, and Nicky Henderson fields several of his top Cheltenham hopes today. He could well take the first 3 races this afternoon at Sandown with Binocular (TonyMcCoy), in the listed hurdle at 14.30 CET, debutant According in the 4yo hurdle at 15.05 and Punchestowns in the Grade One novice hurdle at 15.35, the last two partnered by stable jockey Barry Geraghty. Punchestowns looks the most cast-iron winner here, biut According, who has been well backed fo the Triumph Hurdle this week, could be the most interesting, as he is a totally unknown quantity. However none of the 3 is likely to start at realistic odds, so are not necessarily good betting opportunities.

Henderson also saddles Erzen (Richie Killoran) in the valuable handicap hurdle at 16.10, biut this looks a really tricky race, even though the presence of Lough Derg means that most if the field is running off bottom weight. Erzen clearly has a chance, but we slightly prefer Trenchant (Alan King/ Charlie Huxley) and Ashkazar (David Pipe/ Danny Cook).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Binocular - Dee Ee Williams - Marodima
2. Race: According - Anak - Rajamand
3. Race: Punchestowns - Tchico Polos - Pocket Aces
4. Race: Erzen - Strategic Approach - Trenchant
5. Race: Exmoor Ranger - Massasoit - Razor Royale
6. Race: Russian Flag - Lorient Express - Song Of Songs



At Doncaster Henderson also saddles several runners, the best of which could be Mad Max (Andrew Tinkler) in the novice chase at 15.25. However we are not convinced that he can concede weight to ex-German El Dancer (Lucy Wadham/ Leighton Aspell) or Woolcombe Folly (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), who is coming off a long break. Anothr ex-German with chances is Iolith (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson) who runs in the opening novice hurdle at 13.50, but this is a very open event with a huge field. However if Iolith runs up to his best flat form, he should be in the mix; he did not run badly when 6th on his British debut, and the stable is now in better form.

The Grade Two mares hurdle at 15.55 is another good race. Alergralil (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) is unbeten in 4 starts, but is now facing much better opposition, and we prefer Irish raider Give it Time, one of two Jessica Harrington entries, while last year´s winner Pagan Starprincess (George Moore/ Dougie Costello) is certainly not out of it either.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Dr Livingstone - Tanto Faz - Dan Breen
2. Race: Tazbar - Dave`S Dream - You`Re The Top
3. Race: River d`Or - Calusa Crystal - Sonowyouno
4. Race: Mad Max - El Dancer - Woolcombe Folly
5. Race: Amber Brook - Give It Time - My Petra
6. Race: Free World - Kalahari King - I`Msingingtheblues
7. Race: Alderburn - Bay Cherry - Jass
8. Race: South Leinster - Wayward Prince - Penylan Star