Trainer Paul Nicholls and amateur rider James Snowden, successful 12 months ago in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup with Storm Damage, can produce a repeat at Sandown tomorrow with Satshoon.

This £10,000 chase, which holds some prestige among the unpaid riding ranks, looks an ideal target for Satshoon, who is nothing if not consistent.

Twice a winner this season already, the 11-year-old gained his latest success at Ludlow over a gruelling three miles and seven furlongs, but has also proved himself over tomorrow's distance of three miles.

The 'Ubique' Hunters' Chase provides another opportunity for the amateur brigade and Tom Greenall, teenage son of Aintree boss Lord Daresbury, will be hoping for a good ride from Hermes III, trained by Mick Easterby.

A horse who holds an entry in the Martell Grand National in April, Hermes III was formerly a decent handicapper with Nicky Henderson and is a past winner over this course-and-distance.

Despite his nine-month absence from the racecourse, he should give a good account of himself.

Royal Katidoki merits attention in the first race, the Claremont Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

The four-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, finished second on both his previous starts, in France, and is considered good enough to have been entered in ther Triumpoh Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Royal Katidoki, on his English debut, will need to acquit himself well tomorrow to confirm his place at the Festival.

The Betfred Alanbrooke Memorial Chase looks a fine opportunity for Banker Count to return to the winning groove.

Once a highly-talented performer with Mick Easterby, Banker Count, trained in recent years by Venetia Williams, has not been the easiest of horses to keep sound.

But his latest effort in the-competitive Agfa Diamond Chase over this course and distance earlier in the month saw him run a fine race to finish seventh, only dropping away in the final half-mile.

At the age of 12, he is hardly improving, but he is not to be discounted here and is awarded my Nap vote.

On the Flat at Southwell, Willie Musson can continue his excellent winter campaign by completing a double.

Blakeseven, in the money in his last two starts, can score for the Newmarket trainer in the Bet Direct Apprentice Maiden Handicap, while Jair Ohmsford has even stronger claims in the Bet Direct Interactive Handicap.

Already twice a winner since the turn of the year, Micky Fenton's mount carries a 6lb penalty for his latest success, but will be hard to beat all the same on a surface that clearly suits him.

Thursday's tips:

Sandown

2.00 Royal Katidoki, 2.35 Banker Count (Nap), 3.10 Satshoon, 3.45 Corporate Player, 4.20 Hermes lll, 4.50 Major Euro.

Southwell

1.40 Bundaberg, 2.10 Blakeseven, 2.45 Aveiro, 3.20 Cloudless, 3.55 Box Builder, 4.30 Princess Ismene, 5.00 Jair Ohmsford.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Taunton.

Updated: 12:15 Wednesday, February 18, 2004