Dave Nevison's top tips for Friday: Spargrove can land knockout blow

Sandown is one of two meetings live on Racing TV on Friday afternoon and I have three selections at the Esher venue, including one in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap. Best of luck.

Mandarin has already been gambled on this season and failed to deliver for the Ian Williams stable, but the best dual-purpose trainer operating does not get it wrong for long in my view and I believe it is time for this long-term under-achiever to come good here.

It is highly likely that the reason Mandarin has not lived up to expectations is down to physical issues making him difficult to train but, equally, it looks very much as though he absolutely needs a strong pace to bring out the best in him and this afternoon’s field would seem to ensure there will be a good gallop set.

He finished a good second at Doncaster last time out which showed his turn was probably around the corner and he ran well at this track on soft ground in the Whitsun Cup last year, so there are enough ducks in line for me to make him a good bet at an each-way price with William Hill who are paying four places.

I have been with the runners coming out from the London Gold Cup at Newbury, believing it to be a key handicap for middle-distance three-year-olds every season. However, no winner so far!

Hopefully, that situation may end with this horse though who ran really well despite being caught wide on the track and using up energy getting to the front too early.

Tom Marquand takes over from a 7lb claimer on Friday and this is his chance to break his maiden.

This horse is stepping three furlongs up in trip and I expect that to bring about major improvement plus show that a rating of 58 is a gross underestimation.

Having shown only limited promise in three starts at two, market expectations, pedigree and profile all pointed towards an improved showing being on the cards on his return at Southwell last month, and he produced a definite step in the right direction in finishing a fair second, with the solid-looking, well-backed favourite comfortably held in third.

That was by no means a great race, but nor was this, and another step up in distance very much promises to suit, given that he is related to a couple of high-class Morrison-trained stayers in Marmelo and Vent De Force.