Telemoss can boost his Festival claims

However, look back to March of last year and the form book shows that Telemoss was good enough to finish fourth behind Baracouda, Bannow Bay and It Takes Time in the Stayers' Hurdle.

He travelled like a high-class horse for a long way on that occasion and, provided his jumping holds good over Sandown's stiff fences, this could prove the ideal stepping stone to Cheltenham's Cathcart Chase.

Baracouda's absence from the Tote Scoop6 Handicap Hurdle has come as a blessing to the bookies, who can now price up a highly competitive affair in which the lightlyweighted Chopneyev looks bound to be a popular choice.

Richard Phillips has a well handicapped horse on his hands in this ex-French gelding, who bolted up at Uttoxeter prior to landing the odds with plenty in hand at Ayr.

He's certain to give his supporters a good run, but in Robert Tyner's Camden Tanner he comes up against a fascinating Irish raider who could represent the best value of all.

Sandown's bookies may not have heard too much of Cork-based Mr Tyner. Their colleagues in Ireland certainly have, and any man who can land Leopardstown's Paddy Power Chase two years running in the way that he has, deserves maximum respect. Either way, Camden Tanner's record in the last year makes for encouraging reading.

His latest effort came in a fiercely competitive Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown, where he forged into the lead between the last two flights and stayed on strongly to finish a cracking third behind the unexposed Xenophon.

That form looks rock solid. What's more, Camden Tanner appeals as the type to prove even more at home over this longer trip. If that view proves correct, then this £60,000 prize could be heading back to the Kinsale village of Shippool tomorrow evening.

Earlier on the Sandown card, Rooster Booster is likely to be a very skinny price when he has his Cheltenham prep race in the Agfa Hurdle.

An early sign that this admirable grey would be unopposable for this £20,000 contest came when only two horses were entered against him at the five-day stage.

Reopening the race has hardly had the desired effect, so all the signs point to a very one-sided affair as one of the most improved horses in Britain limbers up for the Champion Hurdle.

Sandown big-race selections: 2.00, Rooster Booster; 2.30, Telemoss; 3.05, Camden Tanner.