BANKER Count, hugely impressive at Wetherby two weeks ago, can fulfill that promise in the big race at Haydock tomorrow.

Mick Easterby's imposing gelding crosses the Pennines to contest the £45,000 Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase - one of three races being televised live on BBC2 - and has excellent prospects of hitting the jackpot.

Banker Count can, occasionally, blunder away his chances, but the more experience he's had the better his jumping has become and he barely touched a twig at Wetherby, where he beat the hot-favourite Redemption in emphatic style.

The Sheriff Hutton performer takes a big step up in class tomorrow, but, from a stable in form, he is strongly fancied to come out on top over his six rivals.

Tim Easterby, Mick's nephew, saddled three winners, including the impressive Barton, at Newcastle yesterday and has good prospects of adding to his score with Stone Cold in the Bet Direct Graham Lloyd Handicap Hurdle.

The promising Artic Jack (1-35) is also worth noting along with Imago ll (3-45), reckoned to be a horse with a bright future by his trainer Ferdy Murphy.

Tomorrow's major action comes from Cheltenham where the £50,000 Rehabilitation of Racehorses Showcase Handicap Hurdle takes pride of place.

Henrietta Knight can do little wrong at present and the Wantage trainer has good prospects of landing this bumper prize with Impek, a promising runner-up at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance.

An exciting prospect, Impek can go one better here and is awarded the nap vote.

Telemoss, a good winner at Wetherby on his seasonal return to action, should not be overlooked in the Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme Handicap Hurdle, despite having to shoulder top-weight.

In the two other televised races on Channel 4, Fondmort (2-15), an impressive winner at Kempton last time, and the hat-trick seeking Phar From A Fiddle (3-25) catch the eye.

Up at Ayr, all eyes will be on The Bajan Bandit as he makes his debut over timber in the Satellite Sports Services Novices' Hurdle.

A top-flight performer in bumpers last season, The Bajan Bandit appears on many a jumping fans' list of horses to follow.

Len Lungo, trainer of The Bajan Bandit, can also score with Lord Of The Sky (2-25) and Global Search (3-00).

October Mist, conqueror of Barton at Wetherby earlier in the month, will start at cramped odds to supplement that fine achievement in the Scotland On Sunday Novices' Chase.

Tomorrow's tips

CHELTENHAM

1.10 Hard To Start, 1.40 Telemoss, 2.15 Fondmort, 2.50 Impek (NAP), 3.25 Phar From A Fiddle, 4.00 Back In Front

HAYDOCK

12.30 Cream Gorse, 1.00 Stone Cold, 1.35 Artic Jack, 2.05 Tensile, 2.35 Banker Count, 3.10 Amarettoforanna, 3.45 Imago ll

AYR

12.20 The Bajan Bandit, 12.50 October Mist, 1.20 Giolla Valley, 1.50 Indian Wings, 2.25 Lord Of The Sky, 3.00 Global Search, 3.35 Beseiged

Updated: 11:44 Saturday, November 17, 2001