Want to see a horse with class by the bucketful? Then switch on to BBC2 tomorrow afternoon and watch Baracouda in the feature race at Ascot.

The French raider, trained by the peerless Francois Doumen, goes for the £55,000 Cantor Sport Long Distance Hurdle and will start at short odds to extend his impressive winning sequence to seven.

Baracouda has won both times he has raced at Ascot, which includes last year's renewal of this race when he produced a memorable display to beat Deano's Beano by 14 lengths.

A very cosy winner on his reappearance here last month, over a trip too short for him, proved Baracouda's well-being and he will be very much in his element back over an extended three miles tomorrow.

An outstanding performer, it will be a major shock if he is beaten.

BBC2 is sponsoring the last three races on the card, including the £25,000 PML Handicap Chase.

Hurricane Lamp has excellent prospects in what should be a fascinating race, Alan King's gelding having been in fine form.

Successful at Huntingdon and Sandown on his last two starts, Hurricane Lamp has solid prospects of completing a hat-trick.

Image de Marque II will represent Martin Pipe in the concluding race, the £20,000 Gerrard Novices' Hurdle.

The five-year-old, a prolific winner this season, had been prominent in the betting for Saturday's Ladbroke Hurdle, and it is significant that she is being aimed at this non-handicap instead.

Winner of four races on the bounce before failing by a neck to beat Rob Leach in a valuable handicap at Sandown last time, Image de Marque II will take plenty of beating here as she bids to get back in the winning groove.

At Uttoxeter, Court Of Justice gets my Nap vote in the Hoar Cross Handicap Hurdle.

A good first run of the season at Southwell two weeks ago, when he finished second, should have put Heather Dalton's charge spot-on for this race. A bold bid is anticipated.

The £10,000 St Modwen Handicap Chase is the feature race on Uttoxeter's programme and Tim Easterby has good prospects of capturing the prize with Monarch's Pursuit.

The seven-year-old, runner-up in his first two starts this season, finished out of the money in a very hot race at Wetherby last time but remains a horse capable of paying his way. Victory can come his way tomorrow.

Tomorrow's tips:

Ascot

1.00 Beethoven

1.30 Doublet

2.05 Papua

2.40 Baracouda

3.10 Hurricane Lamp

3.40 Image de Marque II

Uttoxeter

12.50 Barton Bog

1.20 Chickasaw Trail

1.55 Flinders Chase

2.30 Court Of Justice (Nap)

3.00 Monarch's Pursuit

3.30 Long Walk

Southwell

11.40 One Dinar

12.10 Palacegate Touch

12.40 Knigs To Open

1.10 Sudra

1.45 Sabreline

2.20 Lord Pierce

2.50 Bergen

3.20 Tigress

Updated: 12:00 Thursday, December 20, 2001