Racing preview: There's no doubting the star attraction of the weekend as the incomparable Baracouda lights up what promises to be a smashing pre-Christmas card at Windsor.

Francois Doumen's nine-year-old is one of the best - if not the very best - staying hurdlers to have graced the turf and he is guaranteed to be odds-on to record a remarkable fourth victory in the Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle.

That sort of price will not appeal to many armchair punters, of course, but there is little value to be had in opposing him because he looked as good as ever when making a winning return at Newbury recently.

Crystal D'Ainay got to within three-quarters of a length at the Berkshire track and is progressing well, but Baracouda is notoriously lazy in front and had more in hand than the official winning margin.

Talented Irish raider Rule Supreme is tough and still fairly unexposed over timber, however, and could reward each-way backers as a handy eight runners have been declared.

My Will can bounce back to winning ways in the Novices' Chase.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding gets weight all round as he is only a four-year-old and looks sure to appreciate the step up to two and half miles.

He found the shorter trip against him when third in a hot race at Cheltenham last time, and any rain would not harm his chances either.

Conditions look set to be very testing at Haydock and that should suit Tipsy Mouse in the three-mile Tim Molony Handicap Chase.

Sue Smith's gelding has stamina to burn, as befits a full-brother to Grand National winner Royal Athlete, and is a real mud-loving type.

He has winning form around the Merseyside venue and ran a perfectly adequate race when eighth over an inadequate trip at Aintree in November.

Lough Derg went into many a notebook after his victory in the "Relkeel" Hurdle at Cheltenham and he looks booked to follow up in the Prestige Handicap Hurdle.

Bold Bishop should take the beating on his fencing bow in the Novices' Chase at Newcastle.

Fourth in the 2003 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, he won three novice events over timber last season.

But by far his best result was achieved at Sandown in March in a competitive renewal of the Imperial Cup, a handicap contested by 23 runners, where he ran a blinder, losing out only close to home when the concession of 17lb to Scorned eventually took its toll.

Howard Johnson's Arcalis looks like he could be the real deal over timber and he can make it two out of two in the Novices' Hurdle.