Major Sponsor can pay a huge compliment to Barton - the biggest of all local hopes at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival - by winning the £20,000 Hennessy Cognac Special Series Hurdle Final at Kelso tomorrow.

Impressive winner of two of his last three starts, Major Sponsor was totally outclassed by Barton at Doncaster five weeks ago when beaten 15 lengths into second place by Tim Easterby's unbeaten gelding.

With Barton a red-hot favourite for Cheltenham's Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle the week after next, Major Sponsor has the chance of enhancing his conqueror's already tall reputation tomorrow.

Trained at Middleham by George Moore, Major Sponsor gained his most convincing victory at Newcastle in January when beating the previously unbeaten Lord Lamb by 13 lengths.

His main rival tomorrow will be Crazy Horse, who proved two and a half lengths too good for Major Sponsor when the pair met at Ayr on Boxing Day.

Both horses have improved in the meantime, but, on 4lb better terms, Major Sponsor is fancied to gain his revenge on Crazy Horse - and also give a timely boost to Barton, back home in his stable at Great Habton.

Jimmy FitzGerald can take the opening honours at Kelso with Ilahabad in the Kelso Members Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

The four-year-old fulfilled earlier promise when trotting up at Taunton last time and looks capable of following-up here under a penalty. Tony Dobbin again takes the mount on the French recruit who is owned by Sir Peter O'Sullevan.

Owned by Shirley Russell and her and her racing photographer husband Alec who hail from Huttons Ambo, Hang'em Out To Dry has proved a revelation since returning to action this season.

After wins at Leicester and on this course, the former invalid went down fighting when third to Cool Spot at Hereford last time.

Tackling a slightly longer trip tomorrow, which promises to suit him even better, he is worthy of the nap vote.

Ferdy Murphy and Adrian Maguire have proved a formidable partnership in recent weeks, and Shanagarry can provide trainer and jockey with yet another success in the Norman Dalgetty Showcase Handicap Chase.

Grooving, who has finished runner-up in all his three races this season, can finally get his head in front in the Sprotbrough Claiming Hurdle.

Mary Reveley has her horses in excellent form and although Straffan Gold is far from being one of her stars, the four-year-old has good prospects in the South Yorkshire Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Tim Walford, who trains point-to-pointers very successfully at Sheriff Hutton, holds the answer to the Hambleton Hills Hunters' Chase with Hiltonstown Lass, a useful performer last term.

At Newbury, Raqib can extend his excellent strike-rate in the Arkell Brewery Novices' Handicap Chase. The Paul Ritchens-trained gelding has won the of his last four completed starts and remains on a handy mark.

Tomorrow's tips

DONCASTER

2.00 Grooving

Straffan Gold

3.05 Hang'em Out To Dry (Nap)

3.35 Military Academy

4.10 Memsahib Ofestem

Hiltonstown Lass

5.15 Goodthyne Lady

KELSO

2.20 Ilahabad

Menshaar

Major Sponsor

Shanagarry

Scotmail Lad

Swanbister

NEWBURY

Goodwood Cavalier

Taufan Boy

Edelweis du Moulin

Raqib

Hardly

Bowles Patrol

5.25 Stalbridge Bill

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