Wetherby star

Behrajan, a runaway winner at Wetherby's Christmas meeting, can hit the heights at Cheltenham tomorrow by clinching steeplechasing's most coveted prize.

Henry Daly's gelding lines-up for arguably the most open Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in years.

Behrajan, narrowly beaten in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup earlier in the season, was a highly creditable runner-up to Alexander Banquet on his latest outing in a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown.

The ground that day was atrocious and the slow early gallop counted against Behrajan. He will be much better suited tomorrow by the livelier surface and the sure prospect of a truly-run race.

Best Mate and Bacchanal will be tough opponents for Behrajan on the evidence of their second and third respectively behind Florida Pearl in the King George VI Chase at Kempton at Christmas. Both have specifically trained for tomorrow's big race.

Florida Pearl does not quite stay three and a quarter miles and he is unlikely to confirm his superiority over Best Mate and Bacchanal.

Trainer Willie Mullins said today that Conor O'Dwyer is down to ride Florida Pearl tomorrow. The plum ride became available when Adrian Maguire was ruled out after suffering neck injuries in a fall at Warwick on Saturday.

Looks Like Trouble, who beat Florida Pearl into second in the 2000 Gold Cup, has raced only once this term, having missed the whole of last season through injury.

All in all, Behrajan has plenty going for him, not least the assistance of jockey Norman Williamson, who believes his mount has a great chance. I think the same and award Behrajan my Nap vote.

Jockey Charlie Swan and trainer Christy Roche, on the mark yesterday with Like-A-Butterfly, can add to their success with Bannow Bay in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle.

This classy gelding carries a lot of Irish confidence and is fancied to beat prolific winner Baracouda, the almost certain favourite.

Golden Goal, winner of his last three races, and still on the upgrade, makes plenty of appeal in the Cathcart Chase.

Lord Joshua, highly-regarded in the Nicky Henderson camp, is fancied to take all the beating in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, a wide-open race, as usual.

Benbyas, trained at Hambleton by Les Eyre, is already a course winner at Cheltenham and should go well in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

Irish raider Sheltering has plenty going for him in the Christies' Foxhunters' Chase, and Lasy Cricket is fancied to defy top weight in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase and provide Tony McCoy with a change of luck after his disappointing and distressing opening day yesterday,

Tomorrow's Hexham meeting is in doubt after prolonged rain. There was to be an inspection at the course this afternoon. This afternoon's Newton Abbot meeting was called off this morning. The course is waterlogged.

Tomorrow's tips:

Cheltenham

2.05 Lord Joshua

2.35 Bannow Bay

3.15 Behrajan (Nap)

3.55 Sheltering

4.30 Lady Cricket

5.05 Golden Goal

5.40 Benbyas

Updated: 15:01 Wednesday, March 13, 2002