Dave Nevison's Friday tips: best bets at Sandown and Exeter

This six-year-old's dam was a bumper winner and his half-brother is a winner over three miles, so it seems very likely that the Black Sam Bellamy gelding will be suited by stepping up to three miles-plus over fences.

Dan Skelton introduced him to chasing over 2m4f on his reappearance and he ran well, but it definitely looked as though the fences were coming up a bit quickly for him late on in the race. 

He will no doubt come on fitness-wise for that outing, and the application of a tongue tie for the first time should help any breathing issues. 

The selection looks a well handicapped, young horse who won on his only point-to-point start, and he could well be a force in staying handicaps this season.

Rouge De L'Quest appears to have been waiting for extreme distances and looks the one to side with in this long-distance handicap. He has been raised 3lb for his recent reappearance effort where he finished second for the third time running, and has actually gone up in the handicap for each of those defeats. 

However, I have no concerns about his attitude in the blinkers and believe this step up in trip will enable him to improve and defy the weight rise. The 7lb claim of Callum Pritchard will be hugely beneficial over this trip, too, and with less than 11 stone on his back, Rouge De L’Quest should go very well.

I was disappointed with Fasol’s return at Cheltenham in November when he finished behind Cavern Club, he takes on again here. However, I am happy to give him one more chance as I believe he was perhaps too fresh, and looked to blow up. 

He was a genuine Group class horse on the Flat and if he sharpens up his jumping, and settles better, it is likely he can show himself to be very well handicapped over hurdles. He should be suited by a step up in trip eventually, but a strong pace here will definitely help him.