Racing/Focus On Trainer Jessica Harrington: Talk to Jessica Harrington about the pressures of training Moscow Flyer for his fourth Cheltenham and she displays an impressive sang-froid.

Maybe not in the class of the great horse's jockey Barry Geraghty, who proclaims that pressure is for tyres, but more reflective all the same. For her the real pressure seems to have been at Punchestown at the end of January.

"I remember being in the parade ring before that race and feeling much more panic than I will at Cheltenham. I just remember thinking how terrible it would be if he got beat here. It wasn't a championship race and they weren't the greatest of horses. If he is to be beaten it would be better if it happened at Cheltenham. Then it will be because the other horses are just better. And that's okay," she says.

Famously Moscow Flyer has never been beaten over fences when standing up. Last season's anti-climactic exit brought an end to a festival winning streak that took in the 2002 Arkle and the Champion Chase two years ago. But he is unbeaten since last year's championship and firmly put both Azertyuiop and Well Chief in their places with a sparkling success in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December. Since then it has been a waiting job until today.

"In a funny way there is far less pressure on us this year. He spoke for himself in the Tingle Creek and he isn't the defending champion. In a way he has everything to gain and very little to lose," says Harrington, who admits to surprise at how calmly she took last year's reverse.

"All I felt was relief at him and Barry being alright. The disappointment was actually far less than I thought it was going to be," she adds.

Harrington's own record at the festival has been highlighted in the build-up as one of the most impressive among the visiting trainers. The Moone, Co Kildare- based trainer believes in only travelling those who have a realistic chance of success. Making up the numbers is not her style. There are some who take the view that Moscow Flyer is getting a little long in the tooth to reclaim the title but Harrington believes the Tingle Creek performance takes the heat out of that argument.

Once again, however, Azertyuiop, the reigning champion, and Well Chief are back for another crack at Moscow Flyer. The Paul Nicholls camp in particular have made great play of changing tack against the Irish star and not repeating the waiting tactics used in the Tingle Creek.

A more aggressively ridden Azertyuiop is not a thought that is disturbing Harrington's peace of mind.

"Reading between the lines they might make more use of Azertyuiop because he stays so well. If anything it might give us a lead for a little bit longer," she smiles.

"One thing I don't want to happen is that Barry and Ruby (Walsh) get into a match, take each other on and forget about Well Chief sitting on their heels."

Behind the equanimity, however, lies a desire for Moscow Flyer to win, regain his title and receive the credit Harrington feels he completely deserves.

"I think he is an amazing two miler and I think it is amazing what he has achieved. He never got the credit when he was hurdling. He was the champion novice of his year even though he didn't make Cheltenham because of injury. But he beat Sausalito Bay at Punchestown.

"Then he faced Istabraq three times except Istabraq fell twice and we fell the other time. There was always a sense of unfinished business between the two.

"Things obviously were not meant to be," she says.

But there has been a sureness to Moscow Flyer's campaign through the long winter that bodes only good things for him today. A slight bug that caused him to miss Leopardstown at Christmas has been the only hiccup and that was only marginal. Significantly he has had a post-Christmas prep run since then, a move that was avoided last year.

"He does seem to be a bit more relaxed in himself this time," acknowledges Harrington.

Maybe Moscow Flyer is just taking his cue from his trainer.