Mick Fitzgerald, who has been out of action since he suffered a broken arm in a fall on February 7, can return to the saddle in a blaze of glory at Sandown tomorrow.

The Lambourn jockey, who has a host of fancied mounts at the Cheltenham Festival next week, can get into the winning groove with a win on my Nap selection Saintsaire in the £50,000 Sunderlands Imperial Cup.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, Fitzgerald's boss, who has gained big wins on at least seven Saturdays this winter, Saintsaire gave a sterling effort in last month's Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury.

In one of the strongest handicaps run this season, the gelding finished a close-up seventh to his stablemate Geos in a race in which Rooster Booster, next week's Champion Hurdle favourite, finished second.

Saintsaire would hardly need to improve more than a fraction on that effort to bag the prize and set himself up for a bonus. The winner tomorrow will get a sizeable extra prize if following-up in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at Cheltenham next Thursday.

The Sandown card promises to be a cracker, with the European Breeders Fund Sunderlands 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Final offering a £60,000 pot.

It will take some doing to concede weight all-round in this tough race, but Eric's Charm is a high-class horse and, with the assistance of top Irish jockey Barry Geraghty, he is my fancy to defy top-weight.

Also worth noting in the EBF/Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Mares Only Flat Race Final is Kingsbay, trained by Hughie Morrison.

A winner on her debut, Kingsbay pulled too hard for her own good when suffering a narrow defeat at Fontwell last time. If she settles better in this stronger race, she should make a bold bid.

At Newcastle, Kasthari will be difficult to beat in the Thompkins & Thompkins Novices' Hurdle.

A useful stayer on the Flat with Sir Michael Stoute, before joining County Durham trainer Howard Johnson, Kasthari underlined his potential over hurdles with a runaway win on this course last month. Alan Dempsey's mount is open to further improvement, especially in jumping.

Greystoke trainer Nicky Richards, who had two winners at Carlisle yesterday, can add to his tally courtesy of the promising Rocket Bleu in the Betfair Novices' Hurdle. Bryan Harding takes the mount.

Saturday's tips:

Sandown

1.05 Dad's Elect, 1.35 Eric's Charm, 2.10 Saintsaire (Nap), 2.40 One Nationan, 3.10 Kings Bay, 3.45 Duke of Buckingham, 4.20 Nick The Jewel.

Newcastle

2.00 Rocket Bleu, 2.30 Edmo Heights, 3.05 Kasthari, 3.35 Robbo, 4.10 Comfortable Call, 4.45 Kelantan, 5.20 Raven's Last.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Ayr and Wolverhampton.

Updated: 12:20 Friday, March 12, 2004