Tony Culhane, who celebrated his maiden century of winners at Southwell yesterday, can carry on in style at Wolverhampton tomorrow.

The North Yorkshire-based jockey has strong chances on Zagala and Sharp Hat, the latter being trained at Stillington by David Chapman, who is one of Culhane's biggest supporters.

The duo teamed up with Quito to land the Ayr Gold Cup in September, and that success was the highlight of what has proved a memorable year for the jockey, who lives near Thirsk.

Culhane, who has also had staunch support from Lambourn trainer Mick Channon, was a relieved and delighted man at Southwell yesterday, his 100th winner having been achieved on Barzak, before he made it 101 on Repeat later in the afternoon.

Culhane is aiming to ride on a little longer before having a holiday around Christmas-time and re-charging his batteries for another century bid in 2004.

In the meantime, Zagala, who has shown ability on all-weather tracks, can provide him with a winner in the first division of the Bet Direct Handicap, and Sharp Hat, a prolific winner for Chapman, can likewise do the business in the Bet Direct Claiming Stakes.

Also worth watching out for at Wolverhampton is Peters Choice (1-20), who hails from the Ian Semple yard in Lanarkshire.

A fluent winner over this course and distance last week, on his debut on sand, the two-year-old is napped to defy a 7lb penalty in the hands of Neil Callan.

Over the sticks at Ascot, where runners are very thin on the ground, The Bandit takes the eye in the West End And Metropolitan Ltd Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The six-year-old, trained by Emma Lavelle, scored in fine style over this course and distance three weeks ago and looks a horse to follow. Timmy Murphy has the mount on The Bandit, who probably has most to fear from Limerick Leader.

Murphy can also score on Hot Shots, who runs in the Allied Irish Bank Handicap Chase.

A once-useful novice before losing his way, Hot Shots has returned to form with a vengeance and was a six lengths winner from Upgrade over this course and distance three weeks ago.

The £35,000 Pricewaterhouse-Coopers Ascot Hurdle takes pride of place on the card, but with the field cutting up to just four runners, the racecourse executive will feel pretty disappointed at the turnout.

The most notable absentee is last year's winner, Baracouda, the top staying hurdler around. In his absence, Quazar can capitalise for Jonjo O'Neill and Tony Dobbin.

Tony McCoy rarely travels to Ascot without good prospects of a winner and his most likely triumph tomorrow is expected to come courtesy of Vanormix, trained by Martin Pipe, who lines up for the John Doylr Handicap Hurdle.

Thursday's tips:

Wolverhampton

12-50 Zagala

1-20 Peters Choice (NAP)

1-50 Sharp Hat

2-25 Jagged

3-00 Smoothie

3-35 City General

4-10 Mon Secret

4-40 Geri Roulette

Ascot

1-00 Tacin

1-30 Gigs Gambit

2-05 The Bandit

2-40 Quazar

3-10 Hot Shots

3-45 Vanormix

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Exeter.

Updated: 12:29 Thursday, November 20, 2003