Northern raider Killyglen can lower the colours of the mighty Denman in what promises to be a vintage renewal of tomorrow’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, on a day when jumping fans will be in their element with Newcastle staging a fascinating Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Trained by Howard Johnson in County Durham, Killyglen proved himself a high-class novice over fences last season, which he climaxed in tremendous style with a Grade 2 victory at Aintree in April.

His one run this season saw him chase home the very useful Knockara Beau, conceding that winner the best part of a stone, over an inadequate two and a half miles at Carlisle.

The step up to three miles, plus tomorrow should be perfect for Killyglen, a sound jumper, who is proven in the mud.

Whatever happens, this Gold Cup promises to be a not to be missed event.

Denman won this race off top-weight two years ago, but, despite finishing second in the Gold Cup – a race he’d won in 2008 – last March, he never quite looked the same horse last season. It will take a virtual career best performance for him to give weight and a beating to some classy rivals tomorrow.

Those opponents include his stable-mate What A Friend, jointly owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, the Queen’s Barber’s Shop, who looks attractively weighted, and Cappa Bleu, last season’s champion hunter.

My nap vote, though, rests with Killyglen, who should give Denis O’Regan a great ride in a great race.

While Big Bucks, a stable-companion of Denman, will be hard to beat in the sportingbet.com Long Distance Hurdle, over at Newcastle all eyes will be on Binocular as he makes his eagerly awaited return to action in the £100,000 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Winner of two of his three starts last season, Binocular, trained by Nicky Henderson, suffered his only defeat in the Champion Hurdle, in which he finished a narrowly beaten third to his stable companion Punjabi, after an interrupted preparation.

Binocular is currently the ante-post favourite for this season’s Champion Hurdle, so his supporters will be hoping to see him justify that position tomorrow.

It’s not going to be easy, however, with the likes of Irish raiders, the race-fit Solwhit and former Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity in the line-up.

The Newcastle programme is highlighted by the same sponsors £60,000 Rehearsal Chase, in which Tim Easterby’s recent Wetherby winner Zitenka is not one to underestimate.

On the Flat at Lingfield, Yedingham trainer Alan Brown has good prospects with Head To Head (1.10), while Mark Johnston’s up and coming King’s Salute (1.45), a fluent winner last time out, may have too much firepower for his more experienced rivals in one of the feature races on the card.

Racing selections

Newbury (TV races).

1.35 Big Bucks, 2.40 Killyglen (NAP).

Newcastle (TV races).

1.50 Binocular, 3.25 Zitenka.

Lingfield.

12.05 Memorandum, 12.35 Ming Master, 1.10 Head To Head, 1.45 King’s Salute, 2.15 Wing Play, 2.50 Dichoh, 3.20 Passkey.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Towcester and Wolverhampton.

Today’s meetings: Lingfield, Musselburgh, Newbury and Wolverhampton.