Need anything from Tesco? It'll have to wait until the weekend now.
Racing may be in crisis - Brant Dunshea has recently been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the BHA following the resignation of Lord Allen - but punters have four days of the Festival to look forward to - and six favourites obliged at Sandown on Saturday...
Last year Tutti Quanti was the only British trained runner to contest the Supreme, finishing sixth at 125/1 behind 4/6 favourite Kopek Des Bordes. At the time of writing British trained novices head the markets for the Supreme (Old Park Star) and the Turners (No Drama This End).
The final hurdle on both courses has been moved closer to the home turn after the discovery of a hole in the ground on Trials Day, the cause later found to be a collapsed drain. The run-in will now be a furlong or so in distance; I recall a number of hurdle races with a long run-in at Haydock where the apparent result changed within the shadow of the post.
The going on the Old Course is currently described as good to soft, good in places, with selective watering carried out earlier today.
1.20 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
An intriguing renewal with the Nicky Henderson trained Old Park Star the only runner to have won at the track previously.
Talk The Talk, Mighty Park and El Cairos spearhead a strong Irish challenge.
With just one start over hurdles to his name Mighty Park could be anything.
Both Talk The Talk and El Cairos are likely to be ridden for their turn of foot.
El Cairos, bought out of the David Maxwell dispersal sale for £410,000, hasn't always appeared fluent at the hurdles but looks a bit of a speed merchant.
Back in November Mydaddypaddy was ante-post favourite for this race; his run in the Formby behind Idaho Sun is easily forgiven as four of the nine hurdles were omitted due to the low sun.
A few in this like to go from the front including Sober Glory, described by Harry Cobden as the best novice he has ridden this season; on official ratings he has three pounds to find with Old Park Star. Finished behind Hurricane Pat at Sandown in December - Old Park Star beat that one 18 lengths at Haydock the following month.
With the race likely to be run to suit, El Cairos is the each-way suggestion, currently 8/1 generally.
4.00 Champion Hurdle
Three mares take their chance in this year's renewal.
Favourite Lossiemouth won the Triumph in 2023 and the Mares' Hurdle over two and a half miles in 2024 and 2025; connections fit cheekpieces for the first time.
Brighterdaysahead reversed previous Leopardstown form with Lossiemouth over two miles, beating her three and a quarter lengths in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival just over five weeks ago. To date she hasn't shown her very best form at this track.
Golden Ace beat Brighterdaysahead in the 2024 Mares' Novices' Hurdle and had the same rival back in fourth in last year's Champion Hurdle; she was considered a somewhat fortunate winner that day after State Man, five lengths clear, came to grief at the last.
The New Lion was one length to the good when he fell at Newcastle allowing Golden Ace to add the Fighting Fifth to her curriculum vitae. She scoped dirty when beaten in a two horse race at Wetherby in November and had no chance when second behind Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle. Trainer Jeremy Scott has said he thinks he has her in better order this season than last.
We haven't seen much of The New Lion since winning the Turners last year. After falling in the Fighting Fifth, he won the International on Trials Day - run on the New Course over two miles one furlong - when main market rival Sir Gino was pulled up quickly after three out having gone lame.
Poniros won the Triumph (run on the New Course) last year at odds of 100/1. Only two five-year-olds have won since 2000: Katchit (2008) and Espoir D'Allen (2019).
Alexei raced off a mark of 127 when second behind Celtic Dino in the Welsh Champion Hurdle in October and five weeks later won the Greatwood over course and distance off 134. The handicapper now has him on 148; trainer Joe Tizzard has said he'll travel well into the race and then we'll find out how good he is.
Tutti Quanti was well beaten behind Celtic Dino in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on seasonal debut. He subsequently came out to win the Gerry Feilden and then the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury by 15 lengths on heavy ground off 138. Now rated 151, he has been supplemented for this.
Golden Ace is the each-way suggestion; she looks overpriced at 10/1 with William Hill at the time of writing.
5.20 National Hunt Challenge Cup
I fancied Herakles Westwood for this race last year (finished seventh behind Haiti Couleurs); he held an entry this year too but it looks as though connections prefer the Kim Muir (5.20 Thursday).
Favourite Backmeorsackme ran well when second behind Three Card Brag over three miles one furlong here in October.
Wade Out is the only course winner in this field. At Worcester in October he beat Wendigo (declared for the Brown Advisory on Wednesday) and then beat One Big Bang over three miles one furlong here in a Listed race. Cheekpieces added for the first time but this looks a stiff task under top weight.
King Of Answers (dam: Queen Of Questions) finished second behind Wendigo in an Irish point back in 2023. Having finished behind Guard The Moon at Windsor, King Of Answers sported first-time cheekpieces at Kelso next time and evident improvement followed. He has gone up ten pounds for that effort; has the odd mistake in him.
Grande Geste certainly stays having won the Grand National Trial over an extended three and a half miles at Haydock three and a half weeks ago. Co-trainers' comment in the RP Weekender [28.01-01.02.26]: 'He's very straightforward to train - you could put your granny on him.'
Holokea was pulled up behind Grand Geste at Haydock but in December looked to have a race in the bag on the New Course over three miles one and a half furlongs before being collared by Zertakt.
I'm going to forgive Holokea that run last time; Shane Fenelon takes off five pounds.
Holokea is the each-way suggestion, as I write 40/1 with bet365, Paddy Power and Sky who pay five places.
