My Timeform: Eldorado Allen high on the Betfair Hurdle shortlist

Eldorado Allen (Timeform rating h148) Sandown, Saturday 4 January

Eldorado Allen shaped with plenty of encouragement on his belated reappearance/handicap debut at Sandown on Saturday and he looks well worth a crack at the extremely valuable Betfair Hurdle next month.

Eldorado Allen had not been seen on a racecourse since unseating his rider at Aintree in December 2018, but the form of his previous maiden hurdle win at Sandown had been working out well and he showed on Saturday that he is clearly a very promising young horse.

Totterdown - who eventually finished third - pressed on down the back straight, setting stern mid-race fractions that ensured the race was a proper test.

The move took most of the runners out of their comfort zone but Eldorado Allen and Mill Green - another unexposed, promising type making his reappearance - stayed on well and had the race to themselves jumping the last.

Mill Green proved too strong up the run-in, edging ahead by three-quarters of a length, but Eldorado Allen is entitled to come on markedly for that run and remains with plenty of potential.

Mill Green beats Eldorado Allen to take the Read Nico De Boinville's Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle at @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/0KXkAWxHJ9

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 4, 2020

Ede'Iffs Elton (Timeform rating h97p) Plumpton, Monday 6 January

Ede'Iffs Elton hinted at possessing ability in three novice hurdles but he took a step forward on his handicap debut at Plumpton on Monday and looks the type to carry on improving with experience and when presented with a sufficient test of stamina.

The lightly-raced six-year-old was no match for the wide-margin winner at Plumpton but kept on stoutly to grab second having been outpaced.

That was his most encouraging performance to date and a step up to three miles looks sure to suit. He is completely unexposed granted a stiff test of stamina and is one to note next time.

Polish (Timeform rating h117p) Taunton, Tuesday 7 January

Polish won a Salisbury maiden in 2018 and often ran with credit in Flat handicaps off marks in the low-80s last year.

He has switched from John Gallagher to Fergal O'Brien and shaped with promise on his hurdling debut at Taunton, doing well to finish runner-up.

Polish was held up in the early stages but made good headway down the back straight to get into contention. He was unable to challenge the impressive winner Masters Legacy, but deserves extra credit for being the only runner to get involved from the rear, and he looks well up to winning a similar race.

He is also entitled to come on for that initial experience over hurdles.