Saturday at Sandown

Our best bets on the card

Coral punters have an intriguing Saturday schedule of British and Irish horse racing action ahead, including a compelling card at Sandown, with a Grade One novices chase and Grade Three handicap hurdle the main talking points.

A dozen runners are expected to post at 2.25pm for the Scilly Isles Novices Chase, with two-miles four-furlongs mapped out in front of them. Trainer Nicky Henderson has won two of the last four renewals, with Captain Conan in 2013 and Oscar Whisky n 2014, both under the guidance of jockey Barry Gerraghty, and he goes in again with Top Notch this year, controlled by Daryl Jacob.

Nicholls onto a winner

We oppose him here however, in favour of Clan Des Obeaux for Paul Nicholls. Punters have had their fingers burnt following this five-year-old already, finishing runner-up behind Whisper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, but there was little in it on that occasion, ½ a length the recorded winning distance, and that show came on the back of an impressive win at Newbury the start before, leading the second, Virgilio, home by 10-lengths.

Anything like the effort given that day will be more than enough to see him back in the winner’s enclosure. He appears to have been very well treated in the weights and I am having the improving Clan Des Obeaux, who has already scored over today’s trip, as my pick of the afternoon.