Norton trainer Brian Ellison is hoping to enjoy another moment of glory at Cheltenham tomorrow with Latalomne, having suffered a double-dose of disappointment at the last two Festival meetings.

A faller when in the lead at the second-last fence in the Queen Mother Champion Chase two seasons ago, Latalomne bizarrely suffered a carbon-copy departure at the same fence in the same race last March.

Let's hope that Latalomne, a course and distance winner two years ago, will be able to stay upright in the £25,000 Beards Jewellers' Cup Chase.

In the saddle will be Tony Dobbin, who was lucky to survive a hairy moment at Kelso yesterday.

He was thrown ten feet into the air when his mount Ballystone blundered. And when Dobbin came down he knocked fellow-rider Paul Robson, on Pillaging Pict, completely out of the saddle.

Somerset trainer Paul Nicholls, whose Le Roi Miguel looks a major danger to Latalomne, can win the Paddy Power Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase with the in-form French Executive, who I think will make the most of his light weight.

Self Defense should not be overlooked in the Blue Chip Feeds Novices' Hurdle.

Although the six-year-old failed to win a race last season he produced a fine performance to finish fourth in no less a race than the Champion Hurdle.

If he can reproduce that level of form on his reappearance tomorrow, Self Defense will be hard to beat.

Also worth noting on the opening day of this exciting three-day meeting is Oh So Wisley (4.00), who looks capable of defying a 7lb penalty for a recent success.

At Newcastle, Patriarch Express should give a good account of himself in the Saltwell Signs Novices' Hurdle.

The gelding represents trainer Geoff Harker and jockey Niall Hannity, who were on the mark with The Masareti Kid at Kelso yesterday.

Twice a winner of bumpers last season, Patriarch Express is expected to make the grade over hurdles and is napped to make a winning start here.

Red Rover, a recent winner at Carlisle, can follow-up for Mary Reveley in the Jumbrella Handicap Hurdle. Up-and-coming amateur rider Ollie Nelmes again has the mount.

Because of the fast ground causing concerns on the chase course, Newcastle is staging an all-hurdles card tomorrow.

Tomorrow's tips

Cheltenham

1.10 French Executive, 1.45 Self Defense, 2.20 Uncle Mick, 2.55 Latalomne, 3.30 Dear Deal, 4.00 Oh So Wisley.

Newcastle

12.45 Edmo Yewkay, 1.20 Dark Shadows, 1.55 Copplestone, 2.30 Patriarch Express (Nap), 3.05 Red Rover, 3.40 Heckley Clare Glen.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Wolverhampton.

Updated: 12:18 Thursday, November 13, 2003