Pipe unwraps The Package for Sandown's Bet365 Gold Cup

DAVID Pipe can claim the final big jumps prize of the year with The Package at Sandown. The Esher track hosts their regular clash of the codes as the Bet365 Gold Cup highlights a mixed card and The Package is primed for the feature event.

Although the seven-year-old was well touted for the Grand National, his age group notoriously struggle at Aintree and he failed to buck the trend, making a bad blunder at the 19th fence and parting company with Graham Lee. He had previously shone at Cheltenham, however, breaking his duck over fences in a Listed event last December before just going down to an improved Chief Dan George in the William Hill Trophy at the Festival.

Timmy Murphy's mount got going too late that day and The Package was beaten just a head. Pipe's charge has run well at this track in the past over hurdles and having won on lively ground in bumper company too, the terrain should hold no fears.

Petit Robin can build on a promising show back over the smaller obstacles at Aintree with victory in the bet365.com Hurdle while Twist Magic should be given another chance in the bet365.com Celebration Chase.

Paco Boy can prove the pick of the Flat runners and he is taken to land back-to-back runnings of the bet365 Mile.

Richard Hannon's five-year-old saw off Dream Eater in this race last term before going on to finish a slightly disappointing fourth in the Lockinge when he never really got going.

He roared back to form at Royal Ascot, landing the Queen Anne Stakes before securing an honourable fourth when dropped back to six furlongs in the July Cup.

Paco Boy subsequently finished second to Rip Van Winkle when stepped back up to a mile in the Sussex Stakes but he did not run again last year as Hannon felt he had done enough.

Although Paco Boy is certain to be a little ring-rusty here, he has 7lb in hand over his nearest rival on the officials' ratings and might not need to be firing on all cylinders with the Hannon team in fine form. Glass Harmonium looked a useful prospect last term and can make the best possible start to the year in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes.

Frankie Dettori is an eye-catching booking for Spirit Of Sharjah in the totesport.com Leicestershire Stakes at Leicester while at Haydock, Rosbay can feel the benefit of two previous starts in the Debra Millar's 40th Handicap. Bothy will be fit from hurdling in Ripon's totetentofollow.co.uk Handicap with White Finch primed for the Stay At The Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Dunstall Park.