Unbeaten Gerri Colombe means Scilly Isles will once more be a race to stop traffic

You probably think the action at Leopardstown is likely to prove stronger on immediate thrills and lasting significance than anything Britain can offer, and I sense it might be futile to argue the point. But Sandown also has its Grade 1 prize in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase and, lest anyone doubt the quality of the field, it includes an unbeaten Irish raider prominent in the ante-post betting for Cheltenham.

Gerri Colombe is the horse in question and very exciting he is, too, having finished strongly in landing the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick after Christmas. Gordon Elliott sends him over because he's a horse who appreciates a bit of give underfoot and Sandown is generally a better bet for that than Leopardstown.

It so happens the Esher track is not going to be as soggy as it might ordinarily be in early February and indeed watering has taken place this week, such has been the recent shortage of rainfall. This will be either the driest ground Gerri Colombe has tackled or close to it and that probably makes this five-runner race more competitive than it would otherwise have been.