TOMORROW'S National Hunt programme at Sandown was abandoned this morning. The course is waterlogged.

Sandown are also due to stage racing on Friday but it was decided today that the hurdles course will not be fit for Friday.

Friday's Sandown card will be all steeplechases, combining three chases from tomorrow's abandoned card and the three from the planned Friday schedule.

But there is still a doubt that it will be possible to race at all at Sandown on Friday.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said there would be an inspection at 3pm tomorrow.

"The chase course is far from perfect, but the problem areas are limited," he said.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old Parade has excellent prospects of winning the Bet Direct Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton's Flat meeting on the all-weather track tomorrow.

Parade made his debut over this course and distance four weeks ago and ran a stormer to be beaten only a head by Robin Sharp, the odds-on favourite.

Shane Kelly's mount is fancied to go one better this time, even though his odds are likely to be pretty skinny.

Kelly can also win the Bet Direct Handicap aboard Flying Faisal, trained by Jamie Osborne, the former top-notch National Hunt jockey.

Flying Faisal comes into this race in excellent form after winning cosily over this course and distance a fortnight ago. Although he has more on his plate here, a follow-up looks on the cards.

Over the sticks at Taunton, all eyes will be on Heros Fatal in the Sporting Edge Novices' Chase.

This will be a first run over fences for the Martin Pipe-trained gelding, a smart hurdler, who finished second in last season's Cesarewitch Handicap on the Flat at Newmarket.

Significantly entered in the Sun Alliance Chase at next month's Cheltenham Festival, Heros Fatal will need to make a good impression tomorrow to keep alive his Cheltenham hopes. Tony McCoy has the mount.

In the featured Tote Exacta 1-2 Handicap Chase, Robins Pride can make the most of his light weight.

The 11-year-old gained a six lengths win on this course at the beginning of the month and is clearly in fine form. He is awarded the Nap vote.

Tomorrow's tips

Wolverhampton

2.00 Busy Busy Bee

2.35 Failed To Hit

3.05 Parade

3.35 Effervescent

4.10 Goretski

4.40 Flying Faisal

Taunton

2.10 Mansa Musa

2.45 Brooksie

3.15 Heros Fatal

3.45 On The Right Side

4.20 Robins Pride (Nap)

4.50 Eileen Alanna

Updated: 14:21 Wednesday, February 14, 2001