Jonjo O'Neill, who has his team in really good form, has decent prospects of landing the valuable Stan James Mandarin Chase over three miles at Newbury this afternoon with Hardiman.

This ex-Irish entire is best on a sound surface so he will be suited by the drying conditions at the track and he's shown enough in three of his four starts for his new yard to suggest he can break his lengthy losing run.

He ran arguably his best race for O'Neill when fourth over this trip at Bangor on similar ground in October, and that race worked out really well with the winner, second, fifth and seventh placed horses winning on subsequent outings.

After a poor run on soft ground, my selection bounced back to form over four miles at Exeter last time and, although dropping in trip this time, a plethora of front-runners in the line-up should ensure a true test at the trip.

Ruby Walsh looks the rider to follow at the remainder of the meeting. He can be on the mark with Bal de Nuit (12.35), Cornish Rebel (2.10) and Mary Reveley's hurdles debutant Our Dream in the mares only novices hurdle (3.15).

The first two are a couple of promising types but are likely to be priced accordingly and it could be worth putting them in accumulative bets with Our Dream, who has shown ability in bumpers and is bred to do a good deal better over obstacles.

Walsh has already teamed up successfully with Mrs Reveley this term and he partners the four-year-old, who is a half-sister to very useful chaser Sparky Gayle. She is sure to have been well schooled for this hurdles debut.

Mrs Reveley can also be on the mark at Haydock, where her My Line has been crying out for a step-up in trip and finally gets one in the R.Draper Ltd Handicap over three miles and one furlong.

Tom's Prize, out of his depth in the Hennessy at Newbury, returned to form over hurdles last time and is fancied to go well back over fences from a similar mark in the Last Fling Handicap Chase over three miles.

John Spearing's eight-year-old is back on the same mark as when last successful over fences and looks a stronger stayer than the in-form Longshanks or Tonoco.

On the all-weather at Lingfield The Best Yet is fancied to give a good account in the competitive Bet Direct Football Cashbacks Handicap over seven furlongs.

Although held by Haripur on his latest visit to the course in late October, he does go well fresh and may be better suited to the way the track has been riding than that rival, who is a habitual front-runner.

At decent odds Wavet looks well worth an each-way investment and is taken to go close in division one of the Littlewoods Bet Direct AW Jockeys Championship Handicap over a mile and five furlongs.

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