Amy Murphy hopes Kingmaker remains the right option for Kalashnikov

Kingmaker Novices' Chase (Grade 2) | 1m7½f | 5yo+ | RTV

Needs must when the flu bug drives, and when the Cheltenham Festival looms you grab any opportunity you can.

That is the attitude of Amy Murphy, who had long pencilled in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase as the ideal prep race for Kalashnikov, who is third favourite for next month's Racing Post Arkle Chase.

After equine influenza wiped out Warwick last week, the Grade 2 contest was switched to Sandown, where the dual chase winner was second in the Tolworth Hurdle last winter – his only run on a right-handed track until he was beaten at odds-on at Kempton over Christmas.

But the trainer is happy to take a chance with Kalashnikov, who went on to finish runner-up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the festival last season.

"We are where we are," she said. "We'd like to be going left-handed, but it was either go right-handed or go nowhere at all.

"Sandown is a good test of a jumper, so like Warwick he'll learn plenty on his way round."

Racing Post Arkle Chase card and betting

Kalashnikov faces three rivals, conceding 7lb to Exeter mares' chase winner Dalila Du Seuil, and Murphy said: "It's a competitive race, there's not much between the four and the mare is a bit of an unknown.

"Kalashnikov is in good order, I'm delighted with him. We haven't missed a beat with him."

Dalila Du Seuil is entered in the 2m4f JLT Novices' Chase, but not the Arkle and trainer Harry Fry said: "Her best form over hurdles in France was over slightly further.

"This is a big step up on the mares' chase she ran in on her first start for us, but she did that quite nicely and we're going to see what we've got on our hands. This will tell us about plans for the rest of the season."

Owner Tim Radford and trainer Mick Channon, won last year's Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase with Mister Whitaker, have a range of options for Glen Forsa, who has won novice handicap chases over further than this at Chepstow and Kempton.

Glen Forsa: On a hat trickCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"The owners wanted to run him over two miles to see how he'll handle it," said Channon's son and assistant Jack. "The switch to Sandown has probably suited us as it's a stiffer test of jumping and stamina, which is his forte.

"He's been training really well, we're very happy with him and he seems in great form. I'm expecting a nice run.

"If he's not quite up to the grade, hopefully he'll just move up the couple of pounds that will get him into the Close Brothers. If he's up to the grade and he just needs a bit further, we've got the JLT. But if he does it nicely tomorrow the Arkle is an option as well."

The field is completed by Dell Oro, who finished fourth behind Glen Forsa at Kempton on Boxing Day and was pulled up in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase here last time out.

Weatherbys TBA Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

Welsh permit-holder Brian Eckley knows a good mare when he sees one and he knows what it takes to land a big southern prize.

He bred the 2008 mares' hurdle final winner Jaunty Flight and he bids to land this £30,000 Grade 2 contest with Liberty Bella, whom he also trains.

She will be just his second runner a Sandown – and first since 1998 – but comes here on the back of wins at Ludlow and Hereford

"It's quite a tight race but I hope she's earned her chance," he said. "She's been pretty good since her last run. Robbie Dunne suggested I entered her for Cheltenham – we were thinking of the Newbury race for her, but it's a handicap and she'd have top weight."

Stuart Edmunds runs Queenohearts, a Listed winner at Haydock – where she had a back-up entry on Saturday.

Queenohearts: won a Listed bumper at the trackCredit: Mark Cranham

"This has always been the plan, but we only got clearance to run on Wednesday as we had a runner at Ayr, the only time I've ever been there!" the trainer said.

"She's in good form. She's won round Sandown, she'll be suited by the track, trip and ground. It gets harder with a penalty but she has an abundance of stamina.

Danse Idol got within a length and a half of Queenohearts at Haydock and trainer Paul Nicholls said: "She's in good shape, she'll be better suited by this stiffer track and she's 5lb better off with the winner this time."

Coral Best Price Guaranteed All UK & Irish Races Handicap | 6f | 4yo+ | RTV

Andy Slattery has high hopes that View The Bay will have what it takes to deliver a third win on the Polytrack in the most valuable event on the card.

The daughter of Casamento has won either side of this trip having won over five and seven furlongs, and she has been raised 7lb for a victory over the minimum distance last time.

Slattery said: "View The Bay seems in great form and this race has been the plan for some time. I think six furlongs could be her ideal trip. She has good a good draw and Ben [Coen] is good value for his 5lb claim."

Ben Coen: rides View The Bay in the feature at DundalkCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

One of only two four-year-olds in the 12-runner field, View The Bay is less exposed than many of her rivals. British raider Nick Vedder, who is trained by Michael Wigham, won over the trip at Newcastle on his most recent start last month.

Master Speaker, who will be making the 69th appearance of his career, won this race last year and is returning from a 140-day absence.

Adrian McGuinness, trainer of the nine-year-old, said: "We gave him a break as we're planning to concentrate mainly on a turf campaign this season, but he's in great form and Daire Davis is claiming 10lb .

"We also run Kasbah, who was a bit disappointing there last week. We're putting the visor back on and hoping for a better run."

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