The second day of Sandown's Tingle Creek meeting takes place on Saturday afternoon and here Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns with his best bets on a super day's racing.
West Balboa @ SP
12.35 Sandown
1pt win
Love Envoi @ 7/4
2.20 Sandown
1pt win
Revels Hill @ 7/4
3.30 Sandown
1pt win
West Balboa can make winning return
It's 339 days since West Balboa was last seen on the track, but that was in a Grade 1 at Newbury when he finished second behind Stage Star and this is a much weaker contest.
The Goffs Tingle Creek Sale Mares' Handicap Hurdle (12.35) looks there for the taking for this six-year-old on her reappearance and the fact she has been off the track for so long should be considered a positive. Trainer Dan Skelton has a super record with break returners.
A mark of 127 could seriously underestimate West Balboa on her handicap debut. She has the potential to reach Graded company in time and should make short work of these rivals, with the perfectly capable Kielan Woods taking over from Dan's brother Harry Skelton in the plate.
Fall in love with Envoi
The 2m handicap hurdle (2.20) looks like a competitive race on paper, but there is a Grade 1 horse in the line-up in the shape of Love Envoi and she can bolt up.
Love Envoi was the outstanding novice in the mares' division last season and she followed her victory in a Grade 2 at this course last February with a relentless success at the Cheltenham Festival, when she proved that the drop to 2m1f posed her no problems.
She was no match for the top-class Brandy Love at the Punchestown festival on her final start, but there won't be anything of that quality lining up in this much weaker contest and a mark of 139 for her handicap debut looks more than fair back at a track that evidently suits.
Rider Jonathan Burke said "she will be fit enough to do herself justice" on this week's edition of the bet365-sponsored What A Shout, so the 230-day absence shouldn't be an issue, and going conditions should be ideal for Love Envoi, who absolutely loves cut in the ground.
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Hill should revel in conditions
The London National Handicap Chase (3.30) is usually a gruelling test of stamina, but this year the ground might not be any worse than good and that should be ideal for Revels Hill, who appears to be at his best when hearing his hooves rattle.
The seven-year-old won twice at Taunton last season and, on the second occasion, he scored over 3m4½f.
He appeared to relish the trip that day, so did remarkably well to finish second when dropped to an inadequate 2m5f at Ascot last time, keeping on well in the dying stages.
The winner that day, Your Darling, was on a rapid steep upwards curve so it was no disgrace to be beaten by that rival and Revels Hill looks set to improve for that first run of the season.
The return to a stiff test of stamina should suit Revels Hill and a right-handed track with an uphill finish will be in his favour. He is strongly fancied to justify short-priced favouritism.
