The progressive Cyfor Malta can prove himself the latest star of the Martin Pipe production line by justifying favouritism in today's £75,000-added Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The youngest horse in the field, at the age of five, is already a winner over fences at the Festival meeting in March, having won the Cathcart Chase.
He bettered that performance to take the John Hughes Trophy at Aintree two weeks later, when Cyfor Malta made the fearsome Grand National fences look like schooling poles.
The sky is the limit for the son of Cyborg, who can take this prize on the way to the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in two weeks. Last year's Murphy's hero, Senor El Betrutti, has it all to do with two stone more to carry, but bottom weight Queen Of Spades was a smart novice last season and could be thrown in.
Bluedonix, unbeaten in two races over timber, can complete the hat-trick in the Mackeson Novices' Hurdle.
The David Nicholson-trained five-year-old was impressive at both Stratford and Ascot and looks an above-average recruit.
Nicholson can land a double with Banjo, who is taken to lift the Flowers Original Handicap Chase for the second successive year.
The day's main race away from Cheltenham is the Sean Graham Bookmakers Chase at Ayr, which can see a winning return from Sparky Gayle.
The Colin Parker-trained gelding looked a star for the future during his first season over fences with culminated in a stunning victory in the Cathcart Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, things did not go to plan last term as his stable was hit by a virus and the gelding failed to find the winner's enclosure, although he did show more promise when second to Super Coin in the Mildmay Of Flete Chase on his final start.
This step up to three miles one furlong could prove the making of Sparky Gayle, and the eight-year-old can score here before being aimed at the season's top events.
Tim Easterby's Good Vibes, a good second to Whip Hand last time, can win his first race over fences in the Clugston Novices' Chase at Market Rasen.
And Master Caster, runner-up to Shade d'Amethyste at Ludlow on his hurdling bow, looks the one to be on in the Mencap Blue Sky Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Windsor.
Chai-Yo can finally land the big win he has long threatened at Cheltenham tomorrow. Jim Old has found him an excellent chance to pick up the valuable prize he deserves in the £40,000-added Murphy's Draughtflow Hurdle Handicap.
The trainer will well remember how his gelding was travelling like a winner when he fell two flights from home in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in 1997.
And last year Chai-Yo was strongly fancied to gain compensation only to be badly hampered and unseat his rider at the first.
But he looked right back to his best when reappearing at Sandown last weekend, cruising to an easy, eight-length win.
Cheltenham attracted a crowd of 14,396 yesterday afternoon, a record for the first day of the three-day Murphy's meeting.
Racecourse managing director Edward Gillespie said: "It's been a very successful occasion and I am delighted that so many people have attended the Cheltenham Countryside day."
