More joy for the Hobbs yard is WISHFUL THINKING!

Paul Nicholls has won the Tingle Creek Chase every year for the last six with superstars such as Master Minded, Twist Magic and Kauto Star. He’ll be trying to win it again this Saturday at Sandown. Racing also takes place at Aintree, with horses running over the Grand National fences for the first time this season.

The Tingle Creek is the obvious highlight and, given the recent high profile successes enjoyed by the Nicholls stable, followers will looking to his selected runner to extend that sequence.

Wishful Thinking could prove the biggest danger to the Nicholls team as it looked like a return to two miles should suit him after not seeming to see out the trip in the Paddy Power. He’s a tentative selection in a trappy looking race.

Paul Nicholls also has another potential superstar on his hands in AL FEROF, who runs in the Henry VIII Class 1 Novice Chase (1.55 at Sandown). The Supreme Novices winner looked to settle well when winning on his chasing debut at Cheltenham and is as short as 7/1 for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The grey is a big, scopey sort, who seems to relish the bigger obstacles, and he can assert again over a field that looks severely under-strength since the defection of the Nicky Henderson trained Sprinter Sacre.

PROPHETE DE GUY got the vintage Timmy Murphy treatment last month at Ascot, with Murphy giving him an absolute peach of a ride. He delivered the eight year old at the right moment after a patient ride to take it up and win by am impressive seven lengths for the James Evans yard. Murphy is on board again when they line up in the London National (3.40 Sandown). The trip is over an extended three and a half miles and providing he runs (he also has an entry at Wetherby) he should give a good account of himself. The main danger is likely to be the Emma Lavelle trained Ballycarney, who finished fourth behind Prophete De Guy last time out at Ascot but has a better 5lb pull at the weights this time around.

Last but not least we look to Aintree, who host a great weekend of racing. The first races of the season over the National fences are a highlight, with the main attraction being the Becher Chase, won last year by the Twiston-Davies family on the old boy Hello Bud. He reappears, but is now a 13 year old, and age will surely be catching up on him.

Niche Market has been a regular runner for the Paul Nicholls yard at Aintree but has yet to place there, despite a decent fifth in last year’s showpiece. Rare Bob should run well for veteran trainer Dessie Hughes, as should Swing Bill for the Pipe yard. Preference, however, lies with NICTO DE BEAUCHENE for the in form Victor Dartnall yard.

He shaped with promise on his first run for 235 days when putting up a solid effort behind Mohi Rahrere, the 5/1 favourite, over three miles at Bangor, tiring in the closing stages when running off top weight. He has a workable mark and will be running off 10-7 and, with rain expected to fall, conditions could be perfect for the ten year old. It may even be the precursor to success in Aintree’s VERY big race in 6 months time!

1.55 Sandown – Al Ferof (Nap)

3.05 Sandown – Wishful Thinking

3.40 Sandown – Prophete De Guy (Ew)

2.10 Aintree – Nichto De Beauchene (Ew)

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner