'Is it really true he's running off an official mark of just 91?' - find out which horse has got Richard Birch's punting juices flowing

What's the big story?

If Sandown survives the first real blast of winter, some popular old-timers can warm our hearts in the Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase (3.00).

This £100,000 stamina test has been a well-received addition to the programme since the inaugural running in 2016.

David Pipe won it with Soll that year and he saddles the 12-year-old Remastered.

Joe Tizzard is responsible for the top two in the market, Copperhead and Eldorado Allen, who have both been grand servants to the stable over many seasons.

As always, it promises to be a wonderful spectacle.

Who wins it?

Fortescue possesses several standout pieces of form, including a three-and-a-quarter-length third to Royale Pagaille in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase three years ago.

Runner-up that day was Sam Brown, who gave Fortescue 9lb. The Anthony Honeyball runner is asked to concede 16lb to his rival this time when the claims of the two riders are taken into account.

And that's not all. Fortescue is 16lb better off with favourite Copperhead compared with their meeting at Aintree in October.

Although beaten 14 lengths that day, Fortescue was having his first run of the season, whereas Copperhead was race-fit and in top form.

Fortescue put up one of the best performances of his career when successful over course and distance in March 2021 and looks sure to run a massive race.

Fortescue15:00 Sandown

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Jky: Hugh Nugent (3lb)Tnr: Henry Daly

What's the best bet of the day?

I will be shocked – and considerably poorer – if Fortescue's stablemate, Jour D'Evasion, doesn't reward each-way support at the very least in Sandown's 2m handicap hurdle (3.35). If Henry Daly has a good day, I will too.

Things didn't pan out for the progressive six-year-old at Wincanton last month, yet he was beaten only a length by the unexposed Paul Nicholls runner, Golden Move.

Jour D'Evasion had previously shown a clear liking for Sandown when a three-and-a-half-length runner-up to Ooh Betty.

That mare franked the form with a Kempton victory over Christmas and that's just one of several reasons for believing Jour D'Evasion to be potentially ahead of the handicapper on a mark of 116.

Jour d'Evasion15:35 Sandown

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Jky: Sam Twiston-Davies Tnr: Henry Daly

Any other strong fancies?

Is it really true that Dirty Den is running off an official mark of 91 just over a year after comfortably beating Dodger Long by four and a half lengths in a Huntingdon bumper?

Yes, fellow punters, it is. While plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then, it's hard to believe Dirty Den doesn't remain capable of making a mockery of his rating in Wincanton's 1m7f handicap hurdle (2.05), particularly with Callum Pritchard taking off 7lb.

To put matters in context, Dodger Long is now rated 135 after finishing third in a Grade 3 Fairyhouse hurdle.

Get on.