Stay with Nicholls at Sandown

Stay Away Fay snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on his chasing bow and can put the experience to good use upped to Grade Two level at Sandown on Friday.

Paul Nicholls is wasting no time in raising the sights of this Grade One-winning hurdler, moving straight from his narrow Exeter victory to tackle the Betfair Esher Novices' Chase.

The six-year-old was a surprise winner of the Albert Bartlett last season and while he could not follow up at Aintree, he carried plenty of confidence when switched to fences last month.

Stay Away Fay turned in a fine round of jumping on that occasion but having looked set for minor honours, a good leap at the last saw him battle back to beat The Changing Man - who reopposes - by just under two lengths.

Back in third was Grey Dawning, who has since won impressively at Haydock to give the form a sturdy look and while Stay Away Fay must concede 1.5kg this time, he perhaps just needed the outing after his summer break and more testing ground could also be a plus.

Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden can make it a double with Impact De Bonheur in the closing Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Outclassed by Southoftheborder here last month, Impact De Bonheur should take a step forward from that run, particularly now he is in handicap company.

Southoftheborder is also in action at the Esher venue, taking on the Betfair Beacons Winter Novices' Hurdle.

A point-to-point winner last November, the five-year-old subsequently changed hands for £145,000 at the sale held during this fixture, offering an immediate return on a fraction of that price when winning on his bumper bow in March.

Southoftheborder barely came out of third gear in beating Spirits Bay by two and a half lengths and looks a smart prospect.

Castle Ivers takes the eye in Sedgefield's Paxtons Great Priced 2023 Kverneland Machinery Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Winner of his only bumper start, he is a half-brother to the Grade One-placed Max Ward among others and is a decent recruit for Olly Murphy.

All-weather action comes from Newcastle, where Sports Coach has plenty going for him in the Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.

He fell short on his racecourse debut last month, beaten a length in third over the same 1000m he faces here.

Karl Burke might not need to have found too much improvement in this Bungle Inthejungle colt to get a win on the board. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 13.55 Hollington, Race 2: 14.30 Ravenscar, Race 3: 15.05 El Jefe, Race 4: 15.40 Ballylinch, Race 5: 16.15 Yealand, Race 6: 16.50 Bebside Banter, Race 7: 17.25 Castle Ivers.

SANDOWN: Race 1: 14.40 Goblet Of Fire, Race 2: 15.15 Kotmask, Race 3: 15.25 Southoftheborder, Race 4: 16.25 STAY AWAY FAY (NAP), Race 5: 17.00 Not Sure, Race 6: 17.35 Impact De Bonheur.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 17.10 Delta Legend, Race 2: 17.45 Trais Fluors, Race 3: 18.15 Meleki, Race 4: 18.45 Chifa, Race 5: 19.15 Charencey, Race 6: 19.45 Reclaim Victory, Race 7: 20.15 Sports Coach, Race 8: 20.45 Zuffolo.

DOUBLE: Southoftheborder and Stay Away Fay (Sandown, Races 3 and 4).