Beware of an Avalanche at Kempton tomorrow. Trained by John Best, the horse of that name goes for the £15,000 Betfair.com Showcase Handicap Chase and I think that he will be difficult to beat.

Although yet to get his head in front in four tries this season, Avalanche has run some fine races in defeat, not least over this course and distance last time when he failed by only two and a half lengths to beat Zaffamore.

His winning turn can surely not be delayed much longer and tomorrow could well see opportunity knocking for Avalanche, who will have the assistance of the in-form Mark Bradburne.

The French Street Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase offers Benrajah the chance to gain reward for his long journey south.

The gelding is trained in Cumbria by Martin Todhunter and, like many of the stable's horses, has been in fine form this term.

Already the winner of two races this winter, Benrajah has every chance here of making it three.

Sir Talbot gets my vote in the 'Kempton For Weddings' Novices' Chase. Jim Old's gelding was a winner on his latest start, at Leicester, where he showed plenty of courage to get the better of Old Marsch by a head.

Over the same distance tomorrow, Sir Talbot is fancied to follow up.

With tomorrow's meeting at Bangor abandoned because of waterlogging, the only other remaining action comes from Wolverhampton's all-weather Flat meeting, where Tim Easterby could be among the winners.

The Great Habton trainer saddles Could She Be Magic in the Bet Direct Handicap, and Dale Gibson's mount is fancied to make a bold show after an encouraging effort at Southwell last time when she seemed to find the one-mile trip stretching her stamina. Tomorrow's return to seven furlongs should suit her better.

The £15,000 Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap forms the centrepiece of the Wolverhampton programme and Celtic Mill is fancied to make his trip from North Yorkshire worthwhile by bagging the prize.

Trained at Scorton by David Barker, Celtic Mill shrugged-off a three-month absence to score convincingly over this course-and-distance last month.

A follow-up is on the cards tomorrow when this strong galloper will probably adopt catch-me-if-you-can tactics. Smart apprentice Lee Enstone has the mount on my Nap selection.

Friday's tips:

Kempton

2.05 Croix De Guerre, 2.40 Sir Talbot, 3.15 Researcher, 3.50 Avalanche, 4.25 The Grey Butler, 4.55 Benrajah.

Wolverhampton

2.20 Could She Be Magic, 2.55 Just Wiz, 3.30 Global Achiever, 4.05 Celtic Mill (Nap), 4.40 Hagley Park, 5.10 Red Storm.

Tomorrow's other scheduled race meeting, at Bangor, has been abandoned (waterlogged).

Updated: 11:59 Thursday, February 12, 2004