Events / Graham Cunningham / 29 August 2008 / 1 Comments

Tarby is the banker bet....but don't dismiss Rosaleen as the 'stars' hit Sandown.

Forget the Olympic fallout, the American election and the credit crunch - the burning question this weekend relates to which celebrities will be on hand for Variety Club Day at Sandown.

Betfair seem unlikely to put up a market on which faded stars will be present for the annual Esher bunfight but, if they were to, you wouldn't get a massive price about Jimmy "Tarby" Tarbuck being in attendance.

The gap-toothed scouser has been a regular at Sandown over the years, but trends followers will also expect the likes of Eric Sykes, Floella Benjamin and Judith Chalmers to help the party go with a swing.

Fortunately, those who go to the races for that quaint old pastime of watching the horses also have plenty to divert them, but finding strong betting angles isn't easy.

The Solario Stakes (2.35) is too full of unknown quantities to approach with confidence, while the Sandown handicaps look extremely difficult.

Indeed, first impressions suggest this could be an unusually quiet weekend for yours truly on the punting front, but Rosaleen makes some each way appeal for the Atalanta Stakes at 2.05.

Granted, Brian Meehan's filly shoulders a 4lb penalty for her Listed success here on Eclipse day, but she showed a willing attitude and the fact that the runner-up Visit went on to land a valuable prize at Goodwood is another point in her favour.

Valuable handicaps also take centre stage on the Chester card and anyone who goes in with head down is asking for trouble. That said, the draw is bound to have its usual say and, with that in mind, Mr Wolf looks an attractive back to lay option in the 2.20.

Granted, David Barker's gelding hasn't shone in the past here, but he's dropped to a winning mark and the pace he showed from a wide draw over six at Catterick in midweek suggests he can show up very boldly from stall 3 back at the minimum trip.

Regular readers will be surprised to see me suggest that Cheshire Prince could be a live longshot for Chester's 2.50 given that he is 6lb out of the handicap. However, Mark Brisbourne's gelding has a tremendous record round the Roodee and caught the eye travelling extremely well for a long way on unsuitably deep ground in a hot handicap at Haydock recently.

This faster surface looks much more suitable and, for all that he looks up against it on the figures, Cheshire Prince appeals as a live longshot back at the venue which brings out his very best.