RACING: After a week of deliberation trainer Len Lungo has finally decided on the participation of Direct Access in today's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury and the hint should be taken.

The Scotsman has been patient with the Roselier gelding after he went off the boil a little following two novice chase successes in his opening two races last season.

However, the seven-year-old showed much improved form when hacking up at Kelso earlier this month. Never off the bridle, Direct Access drew clear from the last to beat Interdit three and a half lengths.

That was a good performance and although he faces much tougher opposition here he is nicely weighted to land this highlight. Although Direct Access runs from 7lb out of the handicap, he has actually gone up 9lb on official ratings since the Kelso victory so he is not as badly weighted as first appears.

Brother Joe, an impressive winnerr earlier in the month, can capture the main supporting event, the £30,000 Cantor Sport Long Distance Hurdle.

The Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old trotted up by 15 lengths from Boss Doyle in a Grade Two event at the West Yorkshire track to suggest that the likes of Baracouda and Bannow Bay will not have things entirely their own way come the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.

The Wetherby performance was Brother Joe's best over hurdles and it could be that plans to send him novice chasing will be put on hold should he win in good style again today.

Both Avanti Express and Jair Du Cochet can complete trebles on an exciting card. The former contests the Systems By Design - Commercial Interiors Handicap Chase while the French raider goes in the Ballymore Properties Fulke Walwyn Novices Chase.

At Newcastle, the high-class Intersky Falcon warrants the vote in the Pertemps Fighting Fifth Hurdle. The best novice hurdler of last season, Intersky Falcon is another treble chaser following successes at Haydock in May and Tipperary last month.