Former tennis star David Lloyd unleashes another ace today when Nicholls Cross lines up at Ascot.

The first horse owned by the millionaire businessman was Sound Man, whom Edward O'Grady trained to collect this event in 1995.

His trainer - an expert at laying a chaser out for a big prize - can work the same trick with Nicholls Cross.

This progressive seven-year-old comes into the race in fine form and might well have completed a hat-trick but for unseating his rider four fences from home at Naas last time out.

He had earlier shown the speed to win a two-mile event at Gowran Park, and the stamina to bolt up over this 19-furlong trip in heavy going at Listowel.

Nicholls Cross has been given a very good chance with just 10st 4lb to carry and can land a second successive big Saturday win for jockey Norman Williamson who took the Murphy's Gold Cup on The Outback Way.

Art Prince can enjoy a rare place in the limelight by taking the John Doyle Handicap Chase.

The Martin Pipe-trained gelding is more often to be seen round the lesser tracks, and has already won at Worcester and Taunton this term.

But he is worth this step up in grade after his recent second at Market Rasen to Tullymurry Toff, who went close in the Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock and is being aimed at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

Edredon Bleu can repeat last year's win in the Victor Chandler International Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

As in 1998, when Henrietta Knight's stable-star ran his rivals ragged for a most emphatic victory here, the gelding is expected to come on considerably for a pipe-opening run at Exeter.

Last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase second is a high-class performer and should be good enough to concede 10lb to a ring-rusty Strong Promise. Mary Reveley's trips down the A1 to Huntingdon rarely fail to pay off and she can pay the expenses this time with Kathryn's Pet.

Her mare won twice on the Flat in 1998 and looks weighted to make a winning return to the winter game in the Victor Chandler Teletext Page 620 Handicap Hurdle - a race she won 12 months ago.

Tony Martin can land yet another big British prize at Aintree tomorrow.

The Meath trainer, who has made hay in England with the likes of Linden's Lotto and She's Our Mare in the past 12 months, has justifiably high hopes of taking the Tote Becher Chase with Hollybank Buck.

His nine-year-old showed he is a very useful stayer by winning the Eider Chase at Newcastle and finishing third in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

He will be spot-on after two prep races this term and is a more than good enough jumper to cope with the unique Grand National fences.