Lord Transcend, at his best when the going gets tough, should find conditions tailor-made for him at Haydock tomorrow as he bids to land the feature race on the card for the second successive year.

The £75,000 Peter Marsh Chase is the target for Howard Johnson's grey gelding, who powered home in this three-miler last season when the mud was flying.

With heavy ground forecast, tomorrow's race will again be a war of attrition and this should be ideal for Lord Transcend, a relentless galloper, as it will play to his strengths.

Runner-up to Captain Coreli on this course last month, Lord Transcend should be cherry-ripe and is napped to gain back-to-back victories in this valuable contest.

Faasel makes most appeal in the Commerholst Logistics Champion Hurdle Trial. Nicky Richards' gelding, a former tough and talented handicapper on the Flat with Irish trainer Kevin Prendergast, developed into one of last season's leading juveniles.

He has finished in the frame in his two races this season and the chances are that he will make it third-time-lucky in this Grade 2 event, won last year by subsequent World Hurdle hero Inglis Drever.

In the £40,000 intercasino.co.uk Hurdle at Lingfield, Nathos will not be short of supporters. Charlie Mann's gelding is enjoying a fine winter campaign and he ran an excellent race on his latest start at Sandown when finishing second to Desert Air in the Ladbroke Hurdle. He can get back on top tomorrow over a longer distance.

At Wincanton, the highlight is the £30,000 Connaught Cup Handicap Chase over an extended three miles. My vote goes to Dunbrody Millar, who is lurking attractively at the foot of the handicap and who won by ten lengths at Plumpton earlier this month.

In the GasForce Handicap Chase, make a note of Nas Na Riogh, trained by Nicky Henderson. The seven-year-old returned to action in style at Exeter at the beginning of this month when beating Even More and Lucky Leader. He is entitled to improve with that race under his belt and is selected to double his tally.

Saturday's tips:

Haydock

1.10 Percussionist, 1.40 Faasel, 2.10 Lord Transcend (Nap), 2.45 Don't Be Shy,

3.15 Oso Magic, 3.50 Glasker Mill, 4.20 Cloudina.

Lingfield

12.40 Heathcote, 1.15 Ironside, 1.50 Snakebite, 2.20 Le Volfoni, 2.50 Nathos, 3.25 Saintsaire, 3.55 Son of Samson.

Wincanton

1.00 Raffaello, 1.30 Von Origny, 2.05 Nas Na Riogh, 2.35 Kings Castle, 3.10 Dunbrody Millar, 3.45 Master Mahogany, 4.15 Busy Henry.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Wolverhampton (Flat, all-weather track).

Updated: 12:18 Friday, January 20, 2006