The last 12 months will not be forgotten by County Durham trainer Norman Mason and his assistant Richard Guest following Red Marauder's Grand National success.

Mason was only just pipped for the owner's prize last season by Sir Robert Ogden and the stable have had 17 winners already this term.

Red Ark's Queen Mother Champion Chase and Grand National entries both look a bit optimistic, but he can do the business for the Mason yard in the Allied Irish Bank Showcase Handicap over two miles after making the long trip to Sandown today.

The versatile nine-year-old found the drop back to this trip no problem at Doncaster on testing ground last time and he was value for more than the two lengths he had over Jungli at the finish.

Now he's hit form there could well be more to come and he has conditions in his favour.

He's taken to beat Mary Reveley's Time Of Flight.

Mason can also be on the mark with the most consistent Able Native in the W J Meade Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Although both his wins this term have been over two miles, he showed he was equally effective over this trip when second to Icare d'Oudairiies at Wetherby in December.

He's been kept busy of late but he seems to be thriving on his work and he again has underfoot conditions in his favour.

Mrs Reveley's Chaos Theory, who created a very favourable impression when successful at Musselburgh on his chasing debut, can make amends for a fall at the same course last time by taking the Durkan Group Novices Chase over two and a half miles.

The seven-year-old jumped superbly over this distance at Musselburgh and he was running well behind subsequent easy winner Batswing when falling late on when dropped to two miles last time.

The return to 2 miles is sure to be in his favour and there's definitely better to come from him over fences. He's in very capable hands and is preferred to Jonjo O'Neill's Par Three.

At Wolverhampton River Ensign, who is the only front-runner in the race, could well make every yard in division two of the Littlewoods Bet Direct Fillies Handicap over the extended nine furlongs.

Mark Brisbourne's runner has won three times over course and distance and shaped as though coming to hand when a close second to Jamestown at this course last time.