LINGO, a once smart handicapper on the Flat when trained near Thirsk by Lynda Ramsden, is fancied to overcome a lengthy absence to steal the top honours at Cheltenham tomorrow.

The gelding, now trained by Jonjo O'Neill, lines-up for the wide-open Greatwood Handicap Hurdle and is taken to land the lion's share of the £50,000 prize up for grabs.

Lingo proved himself a high-class novice hurdler two seasons ago and was the winner of a Grade 1 race at Sandown on his final start that term. But an injury forced him to miss the Cheltenham Festival and also the whole of last season.

But now he's back and aiming for the top once more. Okay, so he's got a big absence to overcome, but he looks attractively handicapped on a mark 20lb below former champion Rooster Booster. With Tony McCoy in the saddle, ex-invalid Lingo is selected to return in a blaze of glory in the Cheltenham showpiece.

All eyes will be Accordion Etoile in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase.

A top-notch hurdler last season, Paul Nolan's talented gelding had to settle for second place on his chasing debut at Limerick recently. But he was beaten by a potential star in Watson Lake on that occasion, plus a bad mistake at the second-last cost Accordion Etoile dearly. He can underline his class here by getting home in front.

There are several other Irish horses to keep an eye on throughout the afternoon, not least Urban in the paddypower.com Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.

The shrewd Joe Crowley, father-in-law of Aidan O'Brien, does not send horses to England simply for the good of their health and the fact that he has booked McCoy to ride his recent Limerick runner-up is a tip in itself.

Neptune Collognes, a prolific winner in his native France before joining Paul Nicholls, obliged handsomely for his new handler at Chepstow last month.

He promises to take high rank in the Gideon Kaiser Novices' Hurdle, though expect a good run also from Jeremy Cuddle Duck, a gutsy winner at Aintree last month.

With Carlisle having fallen victim to waterlogging, Fontwell is the only other meeting being staged tomorrow.

Brave Spirit merits respect in the £15,000 Betfredpoker Handicap Chase won three races on this course last season and added another on his recent reappearance, a hurdles event, which he did well to win.

Now back over fences, he is napped to concede weight all round.

Sunday's tips

Cheltenham

1.05 Neptune Collognes, 1.35 Urban, 2.05 Accordion Etoile, 2.40 Lingo, 3.15 Charging, 3.50 Leading Contender.

Fontwell

12.40 French Envoy, 1.15 Ballez, 1.45 Coustou, 2.20 Brave Spirit (NAP), 2.55 Critical Stage, 3.30 Mystical Star, 4.00 Come Bye.

Tomorrow's other meeting, at Carlisle, was called off yesterday because the course is waterlogged.

Updated: 09:51 Saturday, November 12, 2005