Jakari, a young chaser very much on the upgrade, makes plenty of appeal in the Derek Hankinson Showcase Handicap Chase over 2 miles at Ascot today.

Henry Daly's six-year-old notched his third win from his last four starts over fences when beating Lincoln Place on his reappearance over a similar trip and on similar ground at Cheltenham last month.

That form has been franked on several occasions as three of the horses he beat have gone on to win races and several others have run with credit in defeat.

As that was only his sixth start over fences there could easily be more improvement to come and he's taken to get the better of Jonjo O'Neill's Multeen River, who is unbeaten in two starts over fences. But this represents his toughest test to date.

Alan King's yard continues in good form and his Bell Lane Lad looks worth another chance in the PML Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles.

The six-year-old created a very favourable impression on his reappearance run when successful at Uttoxeter in November but almost certainly found the run coming too quickly when tailed off only four days later.

Given that he had looked a progressive sort up to that point, he's worth siding with again and, although dropping slightly in trip, this strong-travelling sort can regain the winning thread.

Baracouda's only defeat since November 2000 came in the Cantor Sport Long Walk Hurdle last year, when he was second to the enterprisingly-ridden Deano's Beano. But he can go one better this term.

The outstanding staying hurdler in recent years looked to retain all his ability when beating Deano's Beano by seven lengths at Newbury on his reappearance last month and can confirm those placings on the same terms.

Henrietta Knight's Yardbird will appreciate the step up to 2 miles and gets the vote in the Mitie Group "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.

The gelding ran his best race over hurdles at Newbury last time and it'll be a bit of a surprise if he can't go close in what looks an ordinary event.

On the all-weather at Southwell Forty Forte, who is better than the bare form of his latest start, is well worth a bet in the Bet Direct On Sky Text Page 371 Handicap (div 2) over a mile.

This course and distance winner fared the best of those that raced right up with a strong pace at Wolverhampton last time. This course has favoured those racing prominently in recent times.

Kylkenny is taken to get the better of likely favourite Mi Odds in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap over a mile and a half.

Hughie Morrison's course specialist has a tremendous strike-rate on artificial surfaces and is fit from a recent spin over hurdles.