A horse in form, proven over the distance, and carrying a light weight puts ticks in most of the right boxes for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, which is why Shardam is the choice to land tomorrow's showpiece event at Newbury.

Successful in his latest outing at Cheltenham, Shardam, tried and tested over three miles, figures at the foot of the handicap in this £110,000 feature and makes stacks of appeal in what promises to prove one of the most thrilling chases of the entire season.

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who horses are in rude health this season, Shardam, a sound jumper, who tends to race up with the pace, is priced at single-figure odds, which may or may not be value-for-money. What is beyond doubt is the solidity of his claims.

Recent heavy rain has come just in time for Jonjo O'Neill's confirmed mudlover Joss Naylor, who ranks among the most potent dangers to Shardam.

Winner of two of his three races last season, before finding ground conditions against him at the Cheltenham Festival, Joss Naylor looks just the type to win a major handicap this term. Add to that, the fact that O'Neill won the feature races on both days of Aintree's meeting last weekend and there is no doubting the well-being of his string.

Ireland is well represented with Hedgehunter, representing trainer Dessie Hughes, successful in last year's Hennessy with Be My Royal, and The Premier Cat, who went into many people's notebooks when running fourth to Edredon Bleu at Clonmel last time over a trip short of his best.

Add to the equation, the likes of One Knight, Irish Hussar and Barrow Drive, and what you have is a fiercely-competitive race for a sizeable prize. Shardam, who has plenty going for him, is taken to come out on top in the hands of Carl Llewellyn and is awarded the nap vote.

All eyes will be on Baracouda in the Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle.

The French raider, the best staying hurdler in Europe, has an outstanding record in Britain and, even though he lacks a preparatory outing, his proven class should stand him in excellent stead here over this exended three miles.

Also worth noting at Newbury are Adiemus (12-30) a useful flat racer and interesting recruit to hurdles, and Sporazene (3-45), the leading four-year-old hurdler last season, who makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance.

At Newcastle, Intersky Falcon can land the £45,000 Pertemps Fighting Fifth Hurdle for the second successive year.

Tomorrow's tips:

Newbury

12-30 Adiemus, 1-00 Puntal, 1-30 Ivanoph, 2-00 Baracouda, 2-35 Shardam (NAP), 3-10 Itsonlyme, 3-45 Sporazene

Newcastle

12-10 Sting Like A Bee, 12-40 Exstoto, 1-10 Hades de Sienne, 1-40 Intersky Falcon, 2-15 Masterpoint, 2-50 Intersky Sovereign, 3-25 Dream On Willie

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Towcester, Haycock, Wolverhampton and Lingfield.

Updated: 14:43 Friday, November 28, 2003