With the doubts surrounding the hurdle races at Sandown and the talk of switching to an all-chase card it makes sense to concentrate on the races over the larger obstacles.

The Grade One Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase has a stellar roll of honour and is often a pointer to the big Festival novice events in the spring.

Dan Skelton unsurprisingly has the favourite in Shan Blue, a slick jumping seven-year-old who has barely put a foot wrong since sent over fences with two victories at Wetherby preceding his Boxing Day success at Kempton in the Kauto Star.

He stays and jumps and we know he gets further which are obvious positives and his last run showed his effectiveness going right handed. That said the bare form has since been let down and I think he faces better horses on Saturday. He's short enough at 5/2.