Iris's Gift, temptingly entered in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday, turns out instead at the Berkshire course tomorrow as he bids to make it four straight wins this season.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding tackles the Unicoin Homes Novices' Chase and, with regular partner Tony McCoy in the saddle, all eyes will be on him as he aims to maintain his unbeaten record over fences this term.

The former leading staying hurdler has the potential to develop into a Gold Cup horse over fences and the decision of his connections not to throw him in at the deep end with seasoned campaigners in the Hennessy, and instead stick to novice company for the time being, is understandable.

Most recently successful at Cheltenham, Iris's Gift looks set for further honours tomorrow.

Phar Out Phavorite is an interesting runner in the cantorspreadfair.com Beginners' Chase over an extended two miles.

Emma Lavelle's gelding returned from a five-month absence to score at Ludlow last time and although he faces a stiffer test here, he is open to plenty of improvement. Barry Fenton takes the mount.

Turko should go well for trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh in the opening Q Associates Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

An import from France, where he proved himself a smart performer, Turko is held in high regard in the Nicholls camp and is thought to be Triumph Hurdle material in the making for the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Mick Fitzgerald, who returned to the saddle earlier this week after several months on the sidelines with a broken bone in his neck, has good prospects of figuring among the winners on his local track.

The Lambourn jockey should enjoy good rides on The Market Man (2.10) and Bonchester Bridge (3.45), both trained by his in-form boss Nicky Henderson.

At Musselburgh, Saif Sareea should not be overlooked in the Morton Fraser Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old is having his first race over jumps for Richard Fahey, who got him during the summer and promptly won two races on the Flat with him.

Given that he looked a much-improved performer on the level under Fahey's guidance, Saif Sareea has the look of a potentially well-handicapped horse over hurdles. Significantly, Graham Lee has been booked to ride.

Len Lungo, who did this column a good turn yesterday when sending out Brandy Wine to win at Wetherby, can, hopefully, do us another, courtesy of My Best Secret in the Scottish Racing National Hunt Flat Race.

Tony Dobbin's mount showed plenty of promise to finish third on his one and only start last season and is a horse well liked by his trainer. He should be hard to beat and is awarded the nap vote on his reappearance.

Friday's tips

Newbury

1.00 Turko; 1.35 Phar Out Phavorite; 2.10 The Market Man; 2.40 Iris's Gift; 3.15 Ashgreen; 3.45 Bonchester Bridge.

Musselburgh

12.20 Pornic; 12.50 King's Protector; 1.20 Ornella Speed; 1.55 Comical Errors; 2.30 Saif Sareea; 3.00 Loulou Nivernais; 3.35 My Best Secret (NAP).

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Wolverhampton.

This afternoon's meeting at Uttoxeter was given the go-ahead after the threat of heavy frost failed to materialise.

Updated: 11:53 Thursday, November 24, 2005