Barton, the big hope of Ryedale at this year's Cheltenham Festival, can prove himself a true champion tomorrow by winning the £80,000 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and extending his unbeaten run to six.

Trained by Tim Easterby and ridden by Lorcan Wyer, the brilliant six-year-old has everything required to triumph and confirm himself the brightest young prospect in England and Ireland.

A horse with speed and stamina, accurate jumping ability and a wonderfully laid-back temperament. Barton has impressed all who have seen him this season.

His first four wins were gained in the style of a swiftly progressive horse and his latest success, at Doncaster seven weeks ago, smacked of real class as he came home 15 lengths clear of Major Sponsor, a margin which could have been doubled had he been ridden out to the line.

Barton has come through his subsequent homework in impeccable fashion, confirming to the Easterby's - Tim and his father Peter - what they already knew, that he is an outstanding horse.

Alexander Banquet, winner of last year's Festival Bumper, leads the Irish assault and is likely to be the main danger to Barton, along with triple-winner Behrajan.

But it will take a very special performances from a very special horse to deny Ryedale a victory. Whatever beats Barton will have to be very good indeed.

Nick Dundee, a possible contender for the Gold Cup until last weekend, goes instead for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase and I strongly fancy the Edward O'Grady-trained gelding to take the prize.

Winner of his last three starts, Nick Dundee has been mightily impressive in his native Ireland and is a relentless galloper who will relish the Cheltenham hill. He promises to take the world of beating.

Norman Williamson, rider of Nick Dundee, can also lift the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Direct Route, trained by Howard Johnson in Crook, Co Durham.

Although it is impossible to ignore that Direct Route burst a blood vessel at Ascot last time out, he had previously shown himself to be a top-notch two miler, particularly effective in a fast-run race.

With the front-running Edredon Bleu in the line-up tomorrow, Direct Route has the class to pick him off after the last provided he is at the top of his game after his troubled preparation.

While Barton fits the bill as a banker bet tomorrow, the search for a bigger-priced Nap selection leads me to Mestre Sala in the Wetherby's Champion Bumper.

Henry Daly's four-year-old absolutely trotted-up on his debut at Wincanton last month, but remains one of the lower-profile in this race.

There is a chance that he will start at double-figure odds here and he makes stacks of appeal in any case.

Irish raider Archive Footage should go well in the wide-open Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.

Derrymore Mist has excellent prospects in the National Hunt Chase and Listen Timmy can lift the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup for owner Stan Clarke who, coincidentally, is also the owner of Barton.

Tomorrow's tips

CHELTENHAM

2.00...................................Barton

2.35.........................Direct Route

3.15...................Archive Footage

3.55.........................Nick Dundee

4.30...................Derrymore Mist

5.05.......................Listen Timmy

5.40................Mestre Sala (Nap)

HUNTINGDON

1.50.....................Hotspur Street

2.20................................Audacter

2.55.............................Tom Pinch

3.30................Bartholomew Fair

4.10........................Tylo Steamer

4.40....................No More Hassle

5.15...............Qualitair Survivor

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.