RED DIRT ROAD can secure victory in the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.07pm) at Sandown Park on Saturday afternoon. While JANGO BAIE should triumph in the Grade One feature at the Esher track, the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (2.35pm).

Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Red Dirt Road still remains open to more improvement, particularly now stepped up in trip to three miles, having only had seven starts over hurdles. He has had some success winning three times most recently when scoring over 2m4f at Aintree Racecourse on Boxing Day. He travelled strongly to make almost all the running at the home of the Randox Grand National, scoring by four lengths. On that Aintree effort – although the dense fog that day made it hard to see all the contest – the gelded son of Fame And Glory looks like he can stay this longer distance and it may bring out the required progression to help him land another win and get the better of chiefly, the Paul Nicholls-trained Henri The Second.

In the feature, the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie can land a first success at the top level over fences ahead of another Nicholls-trained runner Kalif Du Berlais. Jango Baie won a Grade One over the smaller obstacles in the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day 2023 but he always looked to have scope to make into a decent chaser. The six-year-old made a taking winning debut in the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham before Christmas, beating Springwell Bay comfortably. He can build on that effort to land a first Grade One over fences and potentially book a trip to the Cheltenham Festival and/or the Grand National meeting in the spring.

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SOLE SOLUTION can win the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.25pm). Venetia Williams’s seven-year-old won at Hereford last time and had been behind impressive Cheltenham winner Sixmilebridge beforehand. Sole Solution makes his handicap debut off 114 and that looks a winnable handicap mark.

Stable-mate MARTATOR may bounce back to form to win the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2pm). The eight-year-old won twice at Ascot earlier in the season and was third in Grade Two company at Kempton over Christmas. Martator was a bit lacklustre back at Ascot last time, but is better than that and may return to winning ways.

Others who can triumph at Sandown are Olly Murphy’s DIAMONDS FOR LUCK in the opener, the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (12.50pm); another from the Venetia Williams’ stable – hat-trick-seeking IN D'OR – in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.42pm); and the Skelton-trained A PAI DE NOM – second on his Rules debut at Chepstow in October – in the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (4.12pm).

At Musselburgh MINELLA DRAMA can defy top weight to win the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (For The Bowes-Lyon Trophy) Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.50pm). Trained by Merseyside-born Grand National winner Donald McCain at his Bankhouse Stables in Cheshire, the 10-year-old is a smart performer at this level and has won over course and distance in the past. He won a handicap at Musselburgh in January 2023 and grabbed his best success yet when landing the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October earlier this season. He was pulled up in a similar contest, the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time, but generally he is a consistent performer. And back down into a handicap, he can return to form to triumph.

Another course and distance scorer, the Lucinda Russell-trained JOHNNY RINGO, can make it two win from three starts over obstacles with victory in the opener, the Listed bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle (A Juvenile Hurdle) (GBB Race) (1.42pm).

Adrian Keatley’s MAGHLAAK may come out on top in what looks a hugely competitive renewal of the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.17pm). The six-year-old – a winner on the Flat in his younger days – scored twice over the festive period at Wetherby and Catterick. He was only third on his most recent start at Ayr but he remains progressive and can resume winning ways.

Stable-mate GALE MAHLER – who had a similar winning run in earlier in the season – may also triumph in the bet365 Scottish Stayers’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.22pm).

Others who can score in Scotland are Rebecca Menzies’ hat-trick-seeking BOOMSLANG in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (3.57pm); and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained MR MACKAY in the finale, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier) (4.27pm).

At Wetherby another Menzies-trained hopeful – course and distance winner RAFFERTY'S RETURN – may also triumph in the William Hill Bet10, Get10 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.43pm).

Others who may also triumph at the West Yorkshire track are the Sam England-trained GLORY AND HONOUR in the William Hill BOG Is Back Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.08pm); IRASCIBLE in the Peter Beaumont Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase (3.15pm); and Henry Oliver’s NEDZOR in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Handicap Chase (1pm).

In Ireland at the Dublin Racing Festival GALOPIN DES CHAMPS can continue on the road to the third successive Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival next month with another victory in the Grade One Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.30pm) at Leopardstown. The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old remains the leading staying chaser and can confirm his recent win over stable-mate Fact To File over course and distance in the Savills Chase to land a 10th Grade One victory over fences before his date with destiny back at Prestbury Park in March.

It is in bound to be another successful weekend for champion trainer Mullins and MAJBOROUGH can make it two wins over the bigger obstacles with success the Grade One Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2.55pm) before his own return to the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins’ FINAL DEMAND can also win the opener, the Grade One Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.15pm); while the Gavin Cromwell-trained course and distance winner HELLO NEIGHBOUR can score again in the Grade One Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (1.50pm). Stable-mate PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS – another course and distance scorer – may also land the Listed Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (2.25pm).

Wright Ones

SANDOWN PARK

12.50pm Diamonds For Luck
1.25pm Sole Solution
2pm Martator
2.35pm Jango Baie
3.07pm Red Dirt Road (NAP)
3.42pm In d’Or
4.12pm A Pai De Nom

WETHERBY

12.30pm Pate Mollee
1pm Nedzor
1.33pm Lud’or
2.08pm Glory And Honour
2.43pm Rafferty’s Return
3.15pm Irascible
3.50pm Little Ledgend
4.22pm Garrantemple

MUSSELBURGH

1.42pm Johnny Ringo
2.17pm Maghlaak
2.50pm Minella Drama
3.22pm Gale Mahler
3.57pm Boomslang
4.27pm Mr Mackay

NEWCASTLE

4.17pm Socialist Agenda
4.50pm Frankies Dream
5.25pm Joseph
5.55pm Spanish Angel
6.25pm Florida Dawn
6.55pm Tasever
7.25pm Tommytwohoots
7.55pm Hurstwood

WOLVERHAMPTON

4.40pm King’s Code
5.10pm Balgowan
5.40pm Manton Road
6.10pm Eva’s Eyes
6.40pm Paradoxical
7.10pm Mayday Mayday
7.40pm Prince Of Bel Lir
8.10pm Autumn Rose

LEOPARDSTOWN

1.15pm Final Demand
1.50pm Hello Neighbour
2.25pm King Alexander
2.55pm Majborough
3.30pm Galopin Des Champs
4.05pm Midnight It Is
4.35pm Green Splendour

SUNDAY'S NAP: Strutter (Leopardstown 3.50pm)