It is disappointing that Sandown’s big handicap chase tomorrow, the bet365 Gold Cup (3.30 p.m.), has attracted a field of only 14 runners but this is an intriguing race nonetheless with several improving seven-year-olds taking on some older, more experienced horses.

LIVIN ON LUCO has run four times this season, three of them good performances

LIVIN ON LUCO has run four times this season, three of them good performances

The younger generation are well represented at the top of the market with seven-year-old geldings Havaila, Montregard, Ask Brewster and the Irish raider Road To Home all having big chances of landing the first prize of just under £100,000.

My marginal preference is for two eight-year-olds from two in-form British yards. IN D’OR is a lightly-raced gelding who was bought for £220,000 in the owner-jockey David Maxwell dispersal sale last year.

Since then, he has put up two big performances for his new Fergal O’Brien yard, finishing third both times behind quality opposition. Stable jockey Jonathan Burke will try to land one last big prize for his trainer before he goes freelance next season. Back In d’Or 2........

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