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Mark has four bets on Friday
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He's hoping for more Skelton success
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Best bet of the day in the lucky last
13:10 Sandown - Back Northern Air @ 15/82.88
Sandown's Betfair-sponsored Tingle Creek meeting kicks off on Friday and, although we've got a classy card to get stuck into, it's not the easiest to find value with quite a few small fields on show.
Dan Skelton's team haven't quite been keeping up their usual juggernaut-like pace over the last few weeks or so, but the winners have still been going in and Northern Air can add to that tally.
This six-year-old winning hurdler was easy to back on chase/stable debut at Carlisle last month but was a bit too keen/fresh that day and looks sure to step forward with under her belt (was returning from five months off there).
An Irish point winner, there's no reason why she shouldn't take to fences and her mark of 108 looks eminently workable.
Back Northern Air in 13:10 Sandown
14:20 Sandown - Back Salver @ 7/24.50
The Grade 2 Betfair Esher Novices' Chase is the joint highlight of Riday's card and it looks an intriguing renewal, with cases to be made for all of the quartet that go to post. Doyen Quest heads the betting on the back of an impressive recent success at Exeter, and he boast more chasing experience than his three rivals.
However, he's an eight-year-old now and may not have quite the upside of one or two of the others, so I'm prepared to take him on at a short-enough price.
Salver is the one I'm most keen on for the Gary & Josh Moore team.
He made an adequate chasing debut himself last month, proving no match for the classy Lulamba and only just run out of second place by another promising type in Fingle Bridge. That experience won't be lost on Salver and he could be the value.
Back Salver in 14:20 Sandown
14:55 Sandown - Back Hidden History @ 7/42.75
While I'm hoping the Skelton team will be out of luck in the Grade 2, I'm confident they can land this 3m handicap chase with Hidden History.
This could well develop into a two-horse shoot out between the selection and Champagne Twist, who finished third when the pair both made their chase debuts in the same race at Aintree last month.
The main difference that day was the jumping, with Hidden History looking the more polished, and that could well be what gives him the edge once more, despite Champagne Twist being a little better off at the weights.
Obviously, if Champagne Twist's jumping has improved since then he'll be a big threat, but it should be noted that Hidden History was also making his chase bow that day so he should have plenty more to offer.
Back Hidden History in 14:55 Sandown
15:30 Sandown - Marche d'Aligre @ 3/14.00
We have to wait until the final race for the best bet of the day, but I'm hoping our patience will be rewarded by top weight Marche d'Aligre in this 2m handicap hurdle for four-year-olds.
Jamie Snowden's charge was a winner in France, and he struck at the first time of asking over hurdles at Wetherby last November.
He was highly tried on the back of that and disappointed on his first start in a handicap at the end of the season, but he was right back on track at Wetherby on his seasonal return, finishing a good second to Saligo Bay.
He's a well-made sort who shouldn't have any trouble carrying a big weight here and I'm hoping he can add to that sole success from just over a year ago.
Back Marche d'Aligre in 15:30 Sandown