RACING: Unexposed second-season chasers have a history of doing well in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and bold-jumping grey Lord Transcend fits the bill nicely in today's Newbury showpiece.

Howard Johnson's pride and joy has only had one start over fences and has not run for almost exactly a year - but don't let that put you off as this is a horse expected to go to the very top of the tree over the bigger obstacles.

The Graham Wylie-owned gelding had exceptional form as a novice hurdler, his only defeat coming in Grade One company at Aintree, where he was always going to be up against it over two and a half miles on a flat track in what was a very hot race.

He went into the summer to be prepared for a chasing career and he made his debut over the bigger obstacles at Ayr last November. And he didn't disappoint, trotting up by 17 lengths from Strong Resolve, who is to be prepared for a crack at the Welsh National.

Injury then intervened but Johnson is adamant Lord Transcend is back to his best.

The Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle is the main supporting event at the Berkshire track and looks booked once more for the great Baracouda.

The Francois Doumen-trained French star took this race 12 months ago and has only been turned over twice in his last 16 starts, a truly amazing record.

Unlucky to meet an in-form rival who was well ahead of the handicapper when last seen in May, Magic Mistress is fancied to run a big race in the extended two-mile Stan James Intermediate Limited Handicap Hurdle.

Her aforementioned defeat was inflicted by Flying Spirit. In an impressive attempt to defy being raised 18lb for her success at Newton Abbot, Magic Mistress did exceptionally well in the circumstances, coming away from the rest to finish only three lengths behind the winner.

Elsewhere on a cracking card, Fundamentalist, who has been so good over fences that a crack at the Gold Cup is under serious consideration, is virtually unopposable in the Stan James Fulke Walwyn Novices' Chase.

But perhaps the race of the day is at Newcastle, where the Pertemps "Fighting Fifth" Hurdle carries Grade One status for the first and has attracted a field to match.

A strong case can be made out for any of Harchibald, Inglis Drever, Intersky Falcon and Royal Shakespeare - but it is the latter who gets the vote.