Shadow leader gets the vote to take the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown this afternoon on his way to the Champion Hurdle. Few who saw the race will be able to forget the impression the seven-year-old created last year when routing his rivals in the Citroen Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

And although there are question-marks over Shadow Leader's fitness and the form of his yard, Charlie Egerton's stable star is reported to be in good order and has both speed and stamina in abundance, meaning tactics should be insignificant.

Martin Pipe clearly holds all of the trumps in the Tote Bookmakers Sandown Handicap Hurdle, saddling no fewer than five of the 14 declared runners.

Stable jockey Tony McCoy rarely gets it wrong and his selection Big Strand may take the prize for the Nicholashayne stable.

He won the valuable Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last year and an attempt at back-to-back successes looks sure to be on the cards.

With stable-companions Daraydan and Harbour Island sure to ensure a good pace, Big Strand can swoop late up the steep Sandown hill which has seen so many dramatic finishes in the past.

Him Of Praise looks the one in the Singer and Friedlander National Trial (Handicap Chase) at Uttoxeter. Unbeaten in four starts this season, Oliver Sherwood's charge is progressing with every outing and can continue his dominance of the top staying chases with success here in the most valuable race of the day.

A 5lb rise in the weights for his latest victory in the Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase at Sandown puts length-and-a-half runner-up Call It A Day in with a chance of reversing placings.

But the winner is a lazy sort who does only just enough and should be able to make any necessary improvement.

He is only eight-years-old and trainer Oliver Sherwood may want to sidestep Aintree this year but Him Of Praise can still take this opportunity to enhance his Grand National claims.

Wahiba Sands is sure to be a warm order for the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle at Wetherby, having turned over Champion Hurdle possible Zaralaska at Leicester and then scoring again in another hot novice event at Ascot.

But he showed signs of temperament on the Flat and has yet to prove fully he stays two miles in a truly-run contest.

Side instead with Foundry Lane who was a decent stayer on the level and had subsequent easy scorer Hoh Express 24 lengths back in third when a game runner-up to Justin Mac over this course and distance at Christmas.