After so much superb racing over the festive period, it is disappointing to see such small fields at Sandown for tomorrow’s main card in Britain. Between five and 11 runners are due to take part in the seven races at the Esher course. The quicker-than-usual ground conditions for the time of year partly account for the small turn-outs.

The Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase final (3.05 p.m.), over three miles, sees Dorset trainer Anthony Honeyball field one third of the nine runners. One of his horses, Gustavian, has been aimed at this race for some time as has Dan Skelton’s runner Le Milos, despite some indifferent form this season.

Those two horses are vying for favouritism but, at bigger odds, I would rather take a chance on an old favourite of mine from yesteryear: Evan Williams’s 11-year-old gelding ANNSAM. He was running off an official mark of 149 less than three years ago but a dip in his form means he can run off a mark of just 132 tomorrow.

He would prefer the ground to be softer but, with Jonjo O’Neill Jnr back in the saddle having ridden the horse to victory last time out at Ludlow, back Annsam 1 point each way at........

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