Noel Meade, who had a whole host of winners in his native Ireland over the Christmas period, can continue his purple patch at Sandown tomorrow.

The shrewd trainer saddles Iktitaf in the £50,000 Tolworth Hurdle - sponsored by Anglo Irish Bank - and, with Tony McCoy booked for the ride, the five-year-old is fancied to prevail.

Iktitaf has won his last two races in the style of a high-class novice, his latest success coming in a Grade 1 race at Punchestown, in which he scored by five lengths.

Currently at the head of the market for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Iktitaf will confirm that lofty position if he completes a hat-trick tomorrow.

A purse of £100,000 is up for grabs in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle, in which Verasi should make a bold bid, despite having taken a hike up the weights since the latest of his successive wins.

Gary Moore's five-year-old has got his act together this term and still figures at the right end of this handicap. He should give Philip Hide a good ride.

Tim Easterby has good prospects of figuring on the Sandown scoresheet with Pay Attention in the Ladbrokes Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle. A prolific winner last season as a juvenile, Pay Attention has run two good races in defeat this term, at Wetherby and Carlisle. Her winning turn is surely imminent.

Tribal Dispute, also trained by Easterby, likewise boasts solid prospects in the ladbrokes.com Handicap Chase. The gelding looks to be coming back to form and there is every chance he can make his presence felt in this two-miler.

At Haydock, nap selection Cloudless Dawn merits serious attention in the John Smith's Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle.

Peter Beaumont's progressive six-year-old ran out a clear-cut winner at Doncaster on her second start this season and has run a mighty race since on the same track under a penalty to finish second to the well-regarded Napolean. Open to further improvement, Cloudless Dawn will be a tough nut to crack.

Overserved promises to go well for Cumbrian trainer Andrew Parker in the 32Redpoker.com Handicap Hurdle. Having ended last season in a blaze of glory, the gelding began this term in a similar vein with a win at Uttoxeter. The best of him may still be to come and he is fancied to take plenty of beating here.

The 32Red Novices' Handicap Chase offers Another Native the chance to complete a hat-trick of wins.

The gelding has struck form with a vengeance in recent months and is no stranger to this tough course. He should prove hard to beat.

Albertas Run has obvious claims in the Sporting Index National Hunt Flat Race.

Jonjo O'Neill's gelding made a winning start to his career on this course, looking every inch a horse with a bright future. He can fulfil that promise tomorrow.

Saturday's tips:

Sandown

1.00 Spidam; 1.30 Pay Attention; 2.05 Liberthine; 2.35 Iktitaf; 3.10 Verasi; 3.45 Tribal Dispute.

Haydock

12.45 Cloudless Dawn (NAP); 1.15 Bannow Strand; 1.45 Overserved; 2.20 Another Native; 2.50 Master Wells; 3.25 Albertas Run; 3.55 Nowator.

Lingfield

12.40 Billy Bling; 1.10 Magical Music; 1.40 Opera Comica; 2.15 Successor; 2.45 Hits Only Heaven; 3.20 Cold Turkey; 3.50 Egyptian Lord.

Fontwell

12.20 Tessanoora; 12.50 Desert Secrets; 1.25 Magico; 1.55 Kings Castle; 2.25 Harris Bay; 3.00 Full On; 3.35 Krakow Baba.

Today's meetings at Musselburgh and Towcester were both given the go-ahead after early morning inspections.

Updated: 11:37 Friday, January 06, 2006