ALTHOUGH the weather has taken its toll on horse racing this weekend, there is still plenty to get excited about, not least an engaging card at Sandown Park and the Dublin Racing Festival as well.

BUVEUR D’AIR will be the big name on show at Sandown for the Listed Contenders Hurdle at 1.50 and he should readily land this warm-up race for the Champion Hurdle with conditions very much in his favour.

Of course some will say there will be a little more of an edge to the race following his defeat in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park but apart from both tracks being right-handed conditions could not be more different with a much stiffer track to deal with and of course deeper ground which he has always acted on with relish.