L'Antartique, the apple of trainer Ferdy Murphy's eye, heads to Kelso tomorrow in a bid to enhance his growing reputation.

The five-year-old lines up for the Scotdisc Music Stars Novices' Hurdle and is fancied to take all the beating in the hands of Keith Mercer.

L'Antartique made his seasonal debut at Haydock two weeks ago and created a big impression, cruising home under a motionless Mercer by five lengths, a winning margin that could easily have been trebled had his rider so wished.

A useful horse in Ireland last season, L'Antartique looks to have a bright future and hopes are high in Murphy's Middleham camp that he can prove himself one of the leading novices of the campaign.

Into The Shadows will be a tough nut to crack in the Dixon Heaney Handicap Hurdle.

Keith Reveley's smart mare ran out an easy winner at Huntingdon last week and, with the handicapper now hot on her tail, she will bid to defy a 7lb penalty here before her rating rises even more from this weekend.

Hidden Bounty can be another winner for Reveley in the Scottish Countryside Alliance Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old, a previous winner over this course and distance, ran a nice race in sixth on his seasonal comeback at Wetherby three weeks ago in a hurdle race. Sure to have benefited from that outing, he can make his mark here, back over fences.

Brandy Wine will relish the three-and-a-half miles of the John Sale/FBR Handicap Chase.

An out-and-out galloper, Len Lungo's gelding, a winner at Ayr over hurdles last winter, finished second in a novices' chase here in the spring and recently had a pipe-opener over hurdles after his summer break over an inadequate trip at Haydock. He should go well in this stamina test.

Tony Dobbin, rider of Brandy Wine, also takes the mount on nap selection Divex in the Neil Stevenson 60th Birthday National Hunt Flat Race.

Micky Hammond's promising gelding finished a creditable second to The Big Canadian at Haydock last month. A reproduction of that form should see him home in front this time.

Tomorrow's Windsor meeting is a transferred fixture from Ascot and features the £40,000 Blue Square Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles, which offers Royal Shakespeare the chance to fulfil the promise he showed at Wincanton last time.

Steve Gollings' high-class charge battled home in great style to win the Elite Hurdle and is looking as though he's back to the sort of form he showed when winning in Grade 2 company two seasons ago.

Oscar Park promises to go far under Colin Tinkler's tutelage this season and the gelding is taken to land the At The Races Novices' Hurdle.

One of last season's leading bumper horses, Oscar Park gained a six-length win on his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter three weeks ago. He promises to take high rank this term and can extend his unbeaten run to four here under Tom Doyle.

Friday's tips:

Kelso

12.20 L'Antartique; 12.50 Le Biassais; 1.20 Into The Sha-dows; 1.50 Hidden Bounty; 2.25 Blue Rising; 3.00 Brandy Wine; 3.35 Divex (NAP).

Windsor

1.00 Oscar Park; 1.30 Another Native; 2.05 Priors Dale; 2.40 Myson; 3.10 Royal Shakespeare; 3.45 Definite Approach.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Exeter.

Updated: 16:18 Thursday, November 17, 2005