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Sandown Park rules the roost this afternoon with the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle (2.25) and the final of the Veterans Handicap Chase (3.00) leading the way on one of my favourite afternoons of national hunt racing during the season.

The first named could well be a damp squib with the long odds-on favourite and highly exciting CONSTITUTION HILL at odds of around 2/5 following his demolition job over the course and distance last time out.

That runaway success last month impressed the layers so much that they installed him as the second favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival behind stable mate Jonbon and if he lands this famous event in equally good style there is every chance he could usurp his next door neighbour at the head of that ante-post list.

Of course at that kind of price he is not worth going to war with unless you have a load of dosh hidden under your mattress just gathering dust, but I see no real viable alternative with Shallwehaveonemore, possibly the best of the rest.

But the big veterans’ race is a different kettle of fish in what looks a wide open contest. This relatively new series has been a massive success — so much so, that many people are calling for a championship event at Cheltenham in March.

As always conditions will be testing for these old boys around one of the stiffest tracks in the country so being able to see out the trip in comprehensive fashion will be the name of the game. For that reason I have managed to eliminate at least half the field and whittled the real players down to a short list of three entries.

The oldest in the field, Final Nudge, is quite lightly raced for a 13-year-old, but showed that the fire still burns bright when a game three-parts-of-a-length winner over Fagan at Warwick last time out.

Rated as high as 145 in his pomp, he is a player here as long as he can eliminate the sometimes fiddly little mistakes he makes in the middle of his races; the conditions are hugely in his favour.

It seems that trainer David Pipe has always been working back from this race with Gwencily Berbas following a third to Wandrin Star here in November. The fact he went one better last time out in a three-and-three-quarter-mile handicap chase at Exeter last time out was a bonus, and even off an 8lbs higher mark nothing will be coming up the hill stronger. Still, I fancy his Esher conqueror to confirm that earlier form.

WANDRIN STAR has all the attributes to win this race, having won at the track, been lightly raced compared to the majority of his older rivals and with recent wind surgery having quite obviously spurred him onto greater things.

He has a higher cruising speed than many in here so can lay up in behind the lead and there is little doubt that he sees out this tough three miles as well. I expect him to confirm that recent form with both Dancing Shadow and the Pipe in mate and so record a fifth career chase success in 20 outings.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned, I think that the game MARTELLO SKY could give the Irish raider Gauloise a real fright in the Listed Mare’s Hurdle at 12.40, while the course and distance top weight, FARINET, can defy his burden in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase due off at 1.15.

The ground certainly wasn’t suitable for him on his comeback at Cheltenham in the ultra competitive Gold Cup Handicap Chase when he found the field going that little bit too quick for him in the early stages, forcing him into mistakes, but this will certainly be more his cup of tea.

I expect the lightly raced seven-year-old to outstay his seven rivals up the final climb before being raised into the higher echelons of the game.

One of the better bets of the day though, could come at Wincanton where the twice raced CROSSING THE BAR could be the answer to the competitive handicap hurdle over 2m5f at 2.40. On both of his runs to date he has been outpaced before staying on stoutly at the finish. This extra furlong and a half will be right up his street, and with that last run under his belt I expect him to come on a bundle here under his light weight.

BONZA BOY (nap) could well be the each-way play against the three penalised horses in the novice hurdle at 12.55, he shaped an awful lot better than his finishing position suggested last time out at Exeter, while SLATE HOUSE (nb) could well be the answer to the small field, two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at 3.15.

Finally, at Newcastle have a second look at MR SCRUMPY at an each-way price in the staying handicap chase at 1.23.

The eight-year-old is gradually finding his form again with a little help from the handicapper and is taken to reverse recent course and distance form with the veteran Scoop The Pot, and also see off likely favourite Bovington Bob.