LOOK no further than Teinein to land the £50,000 added William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown today.
Tim Forster's five year old was instantly installed at the head of the betting for the two mile contest when the weights were published on Tuesday. He's since been backed from 9 to 2 into 3 to 1 but there's every chance that the bookies will want to "get" him today.
There's been talk of the ground being on the fast side for him and with several longer priced animals in with a chance, Teinein could well drift right out to his original price.
But the going was officially good at Worcester when Teinein won on his reappearance, easily beating Mouse Bird four lengths. And Teinein went on to score in a hack canter at Huntingdon, with a three and a half length verdict over Marius.
He's been upped 9lb for that victory but still looks the one horse in the field who could be a step ahead of the handicapper. And while the ground at Sandown is likely to be faster than anything he has encountered previously, there's no evidence to suggest Teinein won't act on it.
Lord Dorcet is worth a fun bet to spring a surprise in the £50,000 added Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Trophy Chase.
This isn't a race to get heavily involved with, not least with Sound Man, who is smart but has been let down by his jumping several times since winning this race last year. David Nicholson's Viking Flagship is a smart animal but could need this while Storm Alert has had his limitations exposed in the past.
It's worth recalling that Lord Dorcet improved leaps and bounds as a novice last season, finishing second to Ask Tom in the Grade One Sandeman Maghull Novices' Chase at the Aintree Festival.
Lack of an outing beat him on his Cheltenham reappearance as he travelled strongly before weakening to finish six lengths third to Konvekta King. While he faces a stiff task on paper, Lord Dorcet, sent down from Northumberland for this, is no forlorn hope in a race where none of his opponents are certain to run up to their best.
One who shouldn't be opposed, however, is Mulligan in the £19,000 added Henry VIII Novices' Chase. David Nicholson's six year old, a 100,000 guineas recruit from Ireland, has jumped like an old hand on two outings to date, slamming Wilde Music 11 lengths at Kempton last time.
This is tougher but Mulligan, who showed very useful form as a hurdler, has the potential to go right to the top.
At Towcester, Ambidextrous is very interesting in the Northants 96 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
Eric Alston's four year old failed to cut much ice over hurdles last season when his stable was out of sorts but things have changed since. Ambidextrous found his form on the Flat during the summer, winning two races.
