Tiutchev, who made an eye-catching comeback to chase home Bold Gait at Newbury a fortnight ago, can fulfil that promise at Cheltenham's televised programme tomorrow.

The David Nicholson-trained gelding has excellent prospects of landing the Chubb Fire Handicap Hurdle, one of four races set to be shown live by Channel 4 to armchair punters.

Tiutchev might well have scored at Newbury had he not been slightly hampered at the final flight before running on with great gusto to finish a three-quarters of a length runner-up to Bold Gait, the red-hot favourite.

The form of that race has already received one massive boost with third-placed Polar Prospect coming out to win last Saturday's valuable William Hill Hurdle at Sandown.

Tiutchev, winner of both his starts last season, including one over this course and distance, looks favourably handicapped tomorrow and, with Adrian Maguire on board, promises to take all the beating.

The £15,000 CF Roberts Electrical Contractors plc Handicap Chase takes pride of place on the Cheltenham card and could offer Strath Royal a golden opportunity of returning to the winners' enclosure.

Owen Brennan's veteran campaigner, a five-times winner last season, gained a shock victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month, beating such horses as Boss Doyle, Simply Dashing and Escartefigue.

He has since finished a very creditable third to Suny Bay at Haydock to prove himself in the peak of condition, despite his advancing years.

Mouse Bird, runner-up in his last two races since scoring on his seasonal reappearance, can get back in the winning groove in the Letheby & Christopher Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

David Gandolfo's eight-year-old failed to justify favouritism at Warwick last time when finishing second to Rovestar, but was conceding that winner 20lb.

He deserves the chance to go one better tomorrow.

Brave Tornado, from the in-form Toby Balding stable, gets the vote in the Stakis Casinos Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier).

A good fourth to Mister Morose on his return to action at Chepstow, Brave Tornado fulfilled that promise when beating Eau de Cologne at Ascot recently. He can win again.

Cheltenham commemorate the remarkable achievements of Fred and Mercy Rimell by staging a race in their honour tomorrow.

The late Fred Rimell is one of only four trainers to have saddled more than 100 winners at Prestbury Park.

Fred died in 1981, but his widow Mercy carried on the tradition by sending out Gaye Brief from their Kinnersley base to take the hurdling crown in 1983. She trained a total of 25 Cheltenham winners.

The Fred And Mercy Rimell Novices' Chase has attracted a small but select field and nothing makes more appeal than Spendid, winner of both his starts this season, and a horse held in high regard by his trainer, David Nicholson.

Nicholson can also make his presence felt at Doncaster, courtesy of Zaitoon in the Red Rum Novices' Chase, while Nick Littmoden's Cashaplenty, another recent winner, looks good for the Doorknocker Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

The expected good ground will suit Golden Hello in the Thinker Handicap Chase, and Tim Easterby's charge should not be overlooked under Lorcan Wyer.

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