The sky's the limit for fearless Moscow Flyer

Listing this gelding's achievements would take far more space than is available in this column. Suffice to say that an Arkle Chase and a Champion Chase stand proud on a magnificent record, and a fluent win at Navan last month suggests that Jessie Harrington's gelding has lost none of his dash approaching his 11th birthday. As regards tomorrow, it often pays to expect the unexpected at Sandown and you need only recall this race two years ago to find an example of the first two in the market being out of the race by halfway.

Moscow Flyer was the injured party that day when a hefty bump from Flagship Uberalles unseated Barry Geraghty, but he made amends with an emphatic defeat of Azertyuiop in this race last year and can hold the edge again in what has all the makings of a memorable duel.

If it's the weekend then there must be at least one Martin Pipe runner the layers are running scared of. And this weekend it's Manx Royal, who will bid to put another sizeable hole in the profits of the big firms by landing the £75,000 William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

Sadly, the 10-1 available on Monday has long gone, yet Manx Royal still looks the one to be on.

Granted, he takes a marked step up in class in a field containing any number of possible dangers.

Henry Daly's Green Tango rates high on the list and is well worth a saver under a 6lb penalty for his decisive win at Newbury last week, while the progressive McBain is another with plenty to recommend him after romping away with a novice event at Taunton.

However, the pointers in favour of Manx Royal are hard to ignore.

Firstly, Pipe has won this race six times and, although he has saddled a clutch of beaten favourites in recent years, the majority ran blinders in defeat.

Secondly, Manx Royal is bred to make his mark at a high level, as he hails from the family of former Pipe stars such as Hors La Loi and Cyborgo. And thirdly, Manx Royal is completely unexposed having

followed his debut in an Aintree Grade 1 hurdle by sluicing up in a couple of novice events at Uttoxeter and Newton Abbot.

In short, the sustained gamble on this five-year-old suggests connections feel they have a very well handicapped horse on their hands. And, with Pipe's horses in such commanding form, this is one instance where the best policy is to follow the money.

The other two Sandown races on Channel 4 tomorrow are the Henry VIII Novices' Chase and the williamhill.co.uk Marathon.

Le Seychellois will have plenty of supporters in the Henry VIII, but Made In Japan jumped like a natural on his chasing debut at Kempton and looks the one to be on over a course which ought to suit him ideally.

Desailly is another who goes very well at Sandown. Three miles five furlongs is unknown territory for him in the Marathon, but he shapes like a stayer and holds a clear form chance after finishing a clear second to the fast-improving Colonel Frank here last month.

Tomorrow's Sandown TV tips:

2.05, Made In Japan; 2.35, Moscow Flyer; 3.05, Manx Royal; 3.40, Desailly.