Laurina on the drift in Sandown's Scilly Isles as punters look elsewhere

Laurina has been pushed out to 9-4 to win the Grade 1 Betway Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown having been the 13-8 clear favourite last night.

Good Boy Bobby, cut to 5-2 from 4-1, is now hot on her heels as the seven-year-old bids to strike in Graded company at the first time of asking.

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Good Boy Bobby has won seven of his 11 starts and is yet to finish outside the first three. Five of his wins have been on ground described as soft or heavy.

With the going at Sandown currently soft, heavy in places on the chase course the son of Fleminsfirth will have conditions in his favour, but Laurina has also shown her best work when there has been plenty of cut.

Of the ground, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said this morning: "There was a sharp shower at around 7pm last night – in total we measured about 3mm of rain – but we've been dry since 8pm and have a dry, mild day in store.

"We're not expecting any further rain so it's all good to go. If anything it's freshened things up a bit."

View the Sandown card here

At Leopardstown, Sharjah is challenging Honeysuckle for favouritism in the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle, with Paddy Power and Betfair unable to split the pair.

The seven-year-old, who is joint-favourite at 5-4, was a course-and-distance winner in the Matheson Hurdle over Christmas, and Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield noted the firm feels there could possibly be too much to do for Honeysuckle.

Sharjah: is joint-favourite for Irish Champion Hurdle with Paddy Power and BetfairCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Honeysuckle is clearly a very talented mare, but on this step up in class and drop back down to two miles we just feel there might be a chink in her armour.

"Sharjah may not have been the most fancied of Willie's combatants last time, but he was still well backed and we think this extremely tough customer will get the better of the mare."

Petit Mouchoir has also received some early morning support, being trimmed to 10-1 having been available at 16s last night.

The nine-year-old won the race in 2017 when he edged Footpad by a length and bids to build on his last two runs in which he finished a close second to Saldier and the reopposing Sharjah.

Paul Townend will now ride Aramon in the race after Klassical Dream was a late non-runner. He takes over from Danny Mullins.

Read the preview for the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle here

In the ERSG Arkle Novice Chase, Notebook has been on the drift with the seven-year-old out to 9-4 having been as short as 13-8 last night.

Cash Back looks to have benefited most from that and is now 9-2 (from 6-1) to secure his first top-level success for Willie Mullins. Fakir D'Oudairies remains a general 5-2 shot.

Notebook: got the better of Fakir D'Oudairies in the Racing Post Novice Chase on Boxing DayCredit: Patrick McCann

The ground at Leopardstown is yielding on the chase course, and yielding, yielding to soft in places on the hurdle and bumper track.

The Dublin course announced plans this morning for selective watering to take place on the chase circuit tonight.

View the Leopardstown card for day one of the Dublin Racing Festival

Up in Scotland, Musselburgh hosts a seven-race card with the ground officially good to soft, soft in places.

Clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: "We had a really good splash of rain on Thursday, 19.4mm to be precise.

"The soft places are predominantly down the back straight. The forecast is for a blustery day, with the wind dying down and the possibility of showers."

Get exclusive insight from the track and live tipping with Raceday Live - our up-to-the-minute service on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app