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AFTER the jewels in the Christmas racing crown, we drop a level for the racing action this afternoon, with Sandown Park holding the feature fort with one of my favourite races, the Veterans’ Handicap Chase at 3.00.

This extended three-mile event is always a tough slog at this most severe of tracks, although the weather forecast suggests there will be little rain in the 48 hours leading up to the big race. To my eyes this race revolves around how much talent Eldorado Allen retains into his 12th year. A course record of 12344 makes him interesting and he comes here on the back of two fair runs, the latter over a sharp enough two-and-a-half miles when a staying on third at Cheltenham just under a month ago.

Likely favourite, Copperhead, had plummeted down the handicap prior to winning his first race in over three years when dotting up off a lowly 111, and two further wins and a couple of seconds have seen his mark rise to 130, which included a really good second to Esher specialist Certainly Red two outings back after which he just finished ahead of Allen in the aforementioned race at Cheltenham.

Both should both be involved if in the same kind of form, but have been found in the marketplace and the obvious betting play is to find an each-way investment, and that could very well come in the form of the oldest horse in the field SAM BROWN (nap).

Good-to-soft going was no good for him in the Gold Cup at Newbury when his jockey Freddie Gingell reported that he was basically outpaced all the way following a really good seasonal debut in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. But with 10lbs conditional Chad Bament taking over in the saddle, the teenager will now race off only 143, which will be his lowest handicap mark ever and any give in the ground will be huge for this dour stayer.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned, the two-mile handicap chase at 12.40 revolves around the upwardly mobile Beat Box trained by Dan Skelton, but he will have to take another step forward here off a rating of 125 and these fences are sure to test his somewhat iffy jumping, and I much prefer the claims of DUHALLOW TOMMY.

The selection had a lovely warm-up for this when second at Windsor and with that run under his belt and on deeper ground over this stiffer track, his chance is clear to see.

The Senior Handicap Hurdle is a great innovation as the veterans have their own series over fences and some familiar old names will lock horns at 1.15, and the very lightly raced HOURVARI could be the play. This will only be his 11^th career start, his eighth over timber, and there was certainly nothing wrong with his rallying second at Wetherby following a 395 day break. He is a horse who has quite obviously had his problems, but there is some room for improvement in his handicap mark of 122 and he is taken to see off the likes of Monviel and Doddiethegreat.

Later on at the Esher track, the Listed Mares Hurdle at 2.25 may go to ASTON MARTINI who can readily leave behind her disappointing run in the Gerry Fielden at Newbury. This much more testing course looks sure to play more to her strengths and she may be able to outstay the likely favourite Della Casa Lunga up the final climb.

There is not too much on in an ordinary Newcastle card that I fancy apart from TAN LAW at an each-way price in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at 3.08. The selection is quite a stuffy sort, but should be at his physical peak now and the drop to a rating of 95 looks very fair for him to open his career account at the fourth time of asking.

IN D’OR (Wincanton, 1.33) can take the big race of the day at the South Somerset track in what is a pretty poor turnout for a £25,000 event and can also give David Maxwell a nice win in his famous colours, but my other best bets of the day are on the all-weather.

First up at Southwell I am pretty keen on the claims of ADVINDI (4.03). But a word of advice if she is fancied, expect her price to plummet today. A repeat of her run at Wolverhampton two outings back makes her a massive player.

Move Over Miami bids to retain his unbeaten run in the class-three handicap at 5.05. But the value is away from this son of Sea The Moon in the form of WOODSTOCK CITY with the promising Ryan Kavanagh taking 7lbs off his back and down to a mark of 69.

Over at Wolverhampton there is a massive nine race under the lights and I shall be having a healthy wager on CIRCLES (6.50). He is likely to be up against the four-timer seeking Angel of Antrim who won nicely at Newcastle on Thursday late afternoon, but the selection is back down to a mark a pound above his last win, and served notice that his turn was close at hand with a highly promising third of 14 at Dundalk three weeks ago.

PLUMETTE (7.20) should get the pace in the race that she needs in a basement grade handicap over an extended seven furlongs, while OVERLOOKED (8.20) can end the card at a nice price. This step up trip should see an improved run and the booking of Sean Levey is a huge plus.