FIRST Gold can confirm his position as Europe's top chaser with victory in the Tote Gold Trophy Chase on a star-studded mixed card at Sandown tomorrow.

This £100,000 prize over an extended three miles is the nearest this torrid jumps season will get to a substitute Cheltenham Gold Cup.

And it can go the way of the exciting French chaser, trained by the astute Francois Doumen whose forays across the English Channel have resulted in many major triumphs including the Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase.

This season's renewal of the latter event was won in spectacular fashion by First Gold with a fantastic display of jumping to destroy Florida Pearl by 10 lengths.

Surprisingly beaten by Shotgun Willy at Newbury on his return to Britain when not fully wound up, First Gold was back to his brilliant best at Aintree three weeks ago to slam Lord Noelie by 10 lengths.

The eight-year-old can show he is a cut above other staying chasers by capping a highly-profitable campaign.

Baracouda can give Doumen a big jump-race double by outgalloping the opposition in the Bonusprint Distance Championship Hurdle.

Like his illustrious stablemate, Baracouda has made two successful raids to this country with his 14-length thrashing of Deano's Beeno stamping him as a top-notch staying hurdler.

On the Flat front, Island Sands can register his first win since the 1999 Sagitta 2000 Guineas in the £60,000 Group Two Masai Mile.

The five-year-old has been restricted to just three runs since that success because of foot problems but he showed signs of returning to his best when beaten a length and a half by Golani at Saint-Cloud four weeks ago.

Sir Michael Stoute sent Little Rock to capture the £40,000 Heathorns Bookmakers Gordon Richards Stakes 12 months ago and can repeat the trick in this Group Three event with Adilabad.

The four-year-old performed with great credit when taking on his elders last season, beating Albarahin in a Group Three race at Windsor.

He was slightly disappointing on his final start when third to Slickly and Albarahin in a Group Two at Longchamp but with few miles on the clock he has plenty of scope for improvement and can kick start 2001 in this Group Three over 10 furlongs.

A huge gamble on Lucky Gitano came unstuck at Doncaster a month ago but losses on John Dunlop's gelding can be recouped in the Hargreave Hale & Co Rated Stakes.

Venetia Williams can land a double at Wincanton with Soundtrack in the Somerton Novices' Chase and Avalon Buck in the Nine Hole Handicap Hurdle.

Back on the Flat at Southwell, See Ya Maite can overcome a 6lb penalty for a recent course and distance win in the Take Our Daughters To Work Day Handicap.