TOP northern-based amateur jockey Tom Greenall heads for Sandown this afternoon in search of success aboard Sikander A Azam (4.20).

Trained by Mick Easterby's son, David, Sikander A Azam will be on most punters' shortlists, despite returning from a 285-day break from action for the John Woodbridge Memorial Hunters' Chase.

Greenall is so good that he can more than hold his own against professional riders, therefore backers of Sikander A Azam already have an edge since Tom is fully capable of riding the socks off his rivals in the race.

Sikander A Azam is also a pretty useful customer in his own right, generally winning or making the frame in hunters' chases due to the low quality of the opposition and an uncanny knack of getting from one side of a steeplechase fence to another with enviable efficiency.

Some pretty decent three-milers are set to trade blows for the right to claim the £15,000 Royal British Legion Handicap Chase.

Lenny Lungo and Nicky Richards seek to have a say in the outcome with Skippers Cleuch and Direct Access respectively, neither of whom can be discounted with any confidence, although in this instance my vote goes to Joly Bey (2.35).

The fact that Joly Bey's previous three wins have come in January or February must surely give him a leading chance.

In addition, there's heart to be taken from the selection's hugely encouraging performance when a respectable fourth in a hot Class B event at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

The Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle at Taunton has attracted a maximum field of 16 runners, including Chris Popham's consistent seven-year-old, Purple Patch (4.40).

Popham's charge is unproven at the three-mile distance but her race style suggests the trip shouldn't be a problem, nor did she run at all badly when chasing home Sarasota in very soft ground at Exeter on her most recent start.

Martin Pipe, who has a record second-to-none at his local track, sends out the certain hot-favourite, Tanterari (4.40), in the closing Macmillan Cancer Relief Handicap Chase.

Tanterari might well go off as short as 11/10, which in a handicap is simply not value .

If Barren Lands continues to enjoy his return to chasing, he could represent a viable alternative.

After operating more-or-less exclusively over hurdles for the last three years, Kevin Bishop switched Barren Lands (5.10) back to the bigger obstacles at today's course a fortnight ago.

Bishop's gelding jumped with the zest of a horse half his age on that occasion, which is a very positive pointer to his prospects of upsetting Pipe's hot-pot in the £8,000 contest.

A potentially long-priced outsider with a definite squeak at Southwell is Cornish Gold (2.50) in the Press Red Claiming Stakes.

The well-bred Slip Anchor filly possesses the pedigree to do the job, has bits and pieces of fair turf form to her name, plus made a pleasing comeback when fourth in a warmish selling race at Lingfield last month.

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