COURT BY SURPRISE is a good price in the 32Red Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Sandown.

The 12-year-old should really have won more races during his career, but he has a decent record at the track and could feasibly have been trained to the minute for this assignment.

Court By Surprise found three miles and five furlongs too overwhelming at this track on December 3, but his prior run over course and distance served notice that the fires still burn from within.

The Emma Lavelle (pictured) old-timer only went down by half a length to Loose Chips in a qualifier for this race, so it is far from beyond the realms of possibility to suggest that form can be reversed.

Court By Surprise has not won for well over two years, but he is enticingly handicapped as a result and warmed up for this with a satisfactory fourth in a handicap chase at Doncaster, where, interestingly, he was the subject of plenty of market support.

It is tough to make a compelling case against Capitaine in the 32Red Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle.

The Grade One at the Esher circuit cut up quite badly at the final declaration stage, which has unquestionably enhanced the claims of Paul Nicholls’ grey.

Deeply unexposed and seemingly unfazed by any variants of ground, the Grade Two winner is highly unlikely to be knocked off his stride if his jockey forces the issue from flag-fall.

Coeur De Lion must be followed in the 32Red-sponsored juvenile hurdle.

A typically smart young buck from Alan King’s yard, the four-year-old backed up victory at Wetherby in November with a solid second in a Triumph Hurdle trial at Cheltenham.

With the winner Defi Du Seuil having since plundered a top-level success over Christmas, the form is noteworthy, to say the least. Chupalla could develop into a really interesting filly ahead of her return to the fray at Wolverhampton.

This well-bred daughter of Helmet absolutely surged home on her debut over five furlongs at Kempton last March, after which she was quickly elevated into Listed class at Sandown in May.

Chupalla disappointed in the National Stakes, and has since been out of action, but she is not the highest-rated horse in the 32Red.com Conditions Stakes on a whim and is also in receipt of weight from three of her four rivals.

Death Duty can further emboss his strong Cheltenham Festival claims with victory in the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.

This looks a bang-up-to-scratch renewal, with the likes of Augusta Kate and Blood Crazed Tiger worthy foes. But Death Duty seemingly possesses greater levels of speed and stamina than the rest of them, and is utterly deserving of his place at the head of the ante-post lists for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March.

Ubaltique is worth a little bit of an interest in the Bathwick Tyres Cardiff Handicap Chase at Chepstow.

Trained by Donald McCain, whose horses having been going really well this season, the fact he is top weight for this is probably offset by the fact is he now on an eminently winnable mark.

Straits Of Messina is respected in the General Farrell Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell.

Trainer Tom Symonds must have been well chuffed with this one at Bangor last month when he finished second in a two-mile handicap hurdle on his first start in over two years.

SELECTIONS

LINGFIELD: 12.05 Envisaging, 12.40 Pattie, 1.10 Billyoakes, 1.45 Mica Mika, 2.20 Kingston Kurrajong, 2.55 Coral Sea, 3.30 Heads You Win.

NEWCASTLE: 11.55 Listen To The Man, 12.30 Forest Bihan, 1.00 Oscar’s Prospect, 1.35 Trickaway, 2.10 Island Confusion, 2.45 Cross To Boston, 3.20 Illwalktheline.

SANDOWN: 12.10 Coeur De Lion, 12.45 Lifeboat Mona, 1.15 Atirelarigo, 1.50 Garde La Victoire, 2.25 Capitaine, 3.00 COURT BY SURPRISE (NAP), 3.35 Robinshill.

WINCANTON: 12.55 Miracle Cure, 1.30 Get In Pat, 2.05 Fox Appeal, 2.40 Draytonian, 3.15 Fortunate George, 3.50 Black Valentine.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.45 Just Fred, 6.15 Dakota City, 6.45 Menelik, 7.15 Tanzina, 7.45 Chupalla, 8.15 Lawfilly, 8.45 Ahead Of Time.

DOUBLE: Court By Surprise and Capitaine.