Cheltenham may be around the corner, but there’s still the small matter of Sandown’s Imperial Cup (2.25) to get stuck into tomorrow, where Le Patriote looks the one to be with.

This is always a fiercely competitive handicap hurdle run over the bare two-mile trip and Le Patriote looks to have the right profile to land this £42,000 prize for Dr Richard Newland. The six-year-old gelding benefitted greatly from the strongly-run nature of his last start at Ascot just three weeks ago, tanking through the race under Brian Hughes and leading on the bridle jumping the last, although he looked a little tricky when getting into the lead but was always holding Friday Night Light to win by a snug length.

The manner of the way Le Patriote travelled through that race, on just his third start for Newland, suggests an 8lb rise could be lenient and he’s proven in the conditions which are likely to be tough at the Esher track tomorrow.

Sam Twiston-Davies is a positive booking and looks a serious player at the 8-1 readily available in what is always a hot betting heat.

It could be worth saving on Harry Whittington’s Octagon, unbeaten in three starts this season, as he could still be chucked in off 129 but I’m siding with the Newland horse.

At Newcastle tonight, Revenge could cause a minor upset in the 32Red Handicap (7.45) over seven furlongs.

Tim Easterby’s three-year-old showed plenty of promise on handicap debut at Wolverhampton back in August, short of room at a crucial moment a furlong out and unable to finish any better than a fast-finishing fifth.

Stepped up to seven for the first time, Revenge was hampered by a wide draw and despite the best efforts of Martin Dwyer to roust him into an early lead, he paid for the early exertions and finished a highly credible third of 12 behind the well-handicapped Sunbreak.

Below-par runs quickly followed at Newcastle and back on turf at Nottingham, but Revenge has since been gelded and that could be the key to unlocking his potential off a lowly mark of 55 at a likely double-figure price. Rachel Richardson takes off a handy 3lb and Easterby’s charge looks the way to go.

Earlier on Newcastle’s card, Coastal Drive can land the 32Red Apprentice Handicap (6.15) for his excellent handler Paul Midgley.

The grey gelding ran with plenty of credit on four starts last summer for Richard Hannon, including a highly credible second at Salisbury in July over seven furlongs.

Now a three-year-old, Coastal Drive had his first run for Midgley at this track a month ago over seven, shooting well clear two out but weakening inside the final furlong to end up fifth off a mark of 69.

There was plenty of raw speed to work with however and the drop to six looks ideal here, with Georgia Cox taking over in the saddle, and the handicapper has also dropped him 2lb. This looks a potentially weaker race for Coastal Drive who looks to have a good opportunity to break his maiden tag.