Lord Transcend, who promises to take high rank this season, can make a winning start to his chasing career at Ayr tomorrow.

The meeting, which has been transferred from Musselburgh, where firm ground conditions were causing some concern, is sponsored entirely by Skybet, who are likely to have Lord Transcend at pretty short odds in the Beginners' Chase over an extended three miles.

A high-class hurdler, the six-year-old promises to prove even better over better over fences and Durham-based handler Howard Johnson is on record as saying that the gelding is potentially the best horse he has ever trained.

Jockey Graham Lee shares Johnson's exalted opinion of Lord Transcend, who can launch his season with victory tomorrow.

The opening race, the 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle looks a good opportunity for Em's Royalty, trained by Andrew Parker.

The six-year-old showed promise on his only start last season and is considered capable of paying his way this winter. Accomplished claimer Paul Robson has the mount.

Jonjo O'Neill has his horses in excellent form and the Gloucestershire trainer has done a great job of placing Feel The Pride to win four of her last five starts.

Most recently successful at Haydock 12 days ago, Feel The Pride is fancied to defy a 6lb penalty in the Mares' Only Showcase Handicap Hurdle and extend her impressive sequence.

The Novices' Handicap Chase looks a good opening for Longshanks to follow up his recent Haydock success.

Kim Bailey's gelding gave a sound exhibition of jumping to land a decisive success on his latest outing. A 7lb penalty hardly looks enough to anchor him tomorrow.

On the Flat at Wolverhampton, Chubbes should go well in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Nursery over seven furlongs.

The Martin Pipe-trained juvenile finished a good fourth on the final day of the turf season when ridden by Pat Eddery, and has shaped well on an all-weather surface. Joe Fanning should get a good tune of him here and he is worthy of my Nap vote.

Nick Littmoden is in cracking form on the sand at present and, after a double at Southwell on Monday, the Newmarket trainer looks poised to follow-up with Nicholas Nickelby in the nine-furlongs maiden.

The three-year-old has shown ability in both his starts to date and looks open to further improvement as he gains experience. He should make a bold bid.

Also worth watching for at Wolverhampton are the speedy Time N Time Again (1.20) and the tough Paddywack (2.50), a previous course-and-distance winner.

Friday's tips:

Ayr

12.30 Em's Royalty, 1.00 Lord Transcend, 1.30 Birkdale, 2.00 Longshanks, 2.30 Feel The Pride, 3.00 Caitriona's Choice, 3.30 Weston Rock.

Wolverhampton

12.50 Cark, 1.20 Time N Time Again, 1.50 Petite Colleen, 2.20 Chubbes (Nap), 2.50 Paddywack, 3.20 Royal Prodigy, 3.50 Nicholas Nickelby.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Bangor.

Updated: 12:22 Thursday, November 27, 2003