Coral Racing Ambassador, Joe Tizzard, previews his nine runners across the cards at Sandown and Wincanton on Saturday, including Sunset Marquesa in the Listed Mares' Hurdle (14:25) at Sandown.

A busy first Saturday of the new year, and hopefully there won’t be any weather concerns with the meetings. The first half of the season has gone really well, so hopefully we can keep that going as we build up to the important spring festivals.

12:27 Wincanton – Eldorado Allen

It looks as if there will only be two runners in this race, as Gabriel’s Getaway has a first preference at Sandown. While Eldorado Allen will have to give weight to Outlaw Peter, he’s in great form and comes here having won and been placed third at Cheltenham in two runs this season. There’s plenty of money up for grabs and we had to go for it.

12:45 Sandown – Siam Park

We are stepping Siam Park up in grade here, but he won nicely at Plumpton last time and gets in here off a lovely low racing weight. I think Sandown will suit him with its uphill finish, as he gets further than two miles well and while he may not be good enough against horses rated a lot higher than him, it’s a nice pot on offer and with only fiver runners it feels right to have a go.

13:15 Sandown – Bourbali

I don’t think we have a more consistent horse than Bourbali, whether it’s over hurdles or fences he always runs his race. We didn’t manage to win with him last year, mainly as the handicapper knows exactly where he is. This looks a hot enough contest but he’s won around Sandown and he will run his race once again, so he has an each-way chance as always.

13:50 Sandown – Triple Trade

This is Triple Trade’s first run in Veterans’ company as he turned ten on New Year’s Day, and the plan is to get him qualified for the final at Haydock later in the season. He’s run two cracking races at Cheltenham this season, like Eldorado Allen winning and finishing third, and over a trip that will suit him, I can see him running a huge race.

14:05 Wincanton – Sea Warrior

Sea Warrior clipped hills on his last run here last month, he did go down quite heavily that day but fortunately came out of it unscathed. That happened too early in the race for us to learn too much more about him but I don't think he's unfairly handicapped and it would be no surprise to see him run a nice race here.

14:25 Sandown – Sunset Marquesa

Sunset Marquesa is up in grade here but she bolted up at the track last time and has come out of that race really well, so we are rolling the dice with her. Because it’s a Listed race she is wrong at the weights with some of these, which I don’t like doing normally but she’s in such good form, loves it at Sandown, and there aren’t many races of this grade for her, so we’ll take a chance and I’m sure she won’t let us down.

15:05 Sandown – Copperhead

We did have a few issues with Copperhead last year. He had colic in the spring and then pulled a muscle in the autumn, but he’s all good now and prepped for this with a decent run at Cheltenham last month. I don't think he's in any way well handicapped, but he's run very well in these veterans races before and while he owes us nothing, I do think he can go well again here.

15:17 Wincanton – Defi Nonantais

This horse unfortunately doesn't try very hard and having been pulled up on his two starts this season we are entering the last chance saloon with him. In his defence, both of those runs were on very testing ground and we said we'd give him a chance on better ground now he's race fit, but if he doesn't show us something here, we will be looking for another career for him.

15:50 Wincanton – Sailing By

Sailing By has run OK in his two starts to date, both in Bumpers, and this is his hurdling debut. He’s schooled nicely at hom, and he will win races in the future, but he’s a baby of a horse now and one to look forward to.

Joe Tizzard, Coral Racing Ambassador