Harry Cobden, Paul Nolan and Nigel Hawke join our weekly panel

What chance do you give Richard Johnson of catching Brian Hughes and winning the jockeys’ title?

Jockey Harry Cobden I think he’ll be champion jockey again. A lot of southern-based trainers are going to back him and he has Dave Roberts in his corner. He’s come back really strongly, like he’s never been away, and I think he’s got a good chance.

Trainer Ben Haslam It’s in Brian Hughes’s hands. If he keeps himself north next week rather than going to Cheltenham he’s got Sedgefield and Hexham, where he regularly bangs in two or three winners each meeting. If he does that it will go a long way towards making him virtually impossible to catch.

Trainer Nigel Hawke It’s going to be interesting and good for the sport if it goes down to the final day at Sandown, but Brian’s lead will take some pegging back. Moving into the spring festival season it will be interesting, but away from the bright lights Brian will get a lot of support at places like Hexham and Ayr where he quietly racks up the winners.