Forestal, an impressive winner at Wetherby last month, can follow-up tomorrow on the first day of Cheltenham's excellent three-day Murphy's Irish Craic meeting.

Trained at Crook in County Durham by Howard Johnson, Forestal bids for the Mitsubishi Shogun Trophy Handicap Chase and will again have the services of champion jockey Tony McCoy.

At Wetherby, Forestal gave a solid exhibition of jumping to win by six lengths from Master Boston with subsequent winners Cab On Target and Strath Royal finishing third and fifth respectively.

Raised only a modest 5lb for that emphatic win, Forestal looks good for a repeat tomorrow.

The Sporting Index Cross Country Chase, run over a variety of obstacles, is tailor-made for McGregor The Third, who is fully familiar with the task.

Nicky Richards' spring-heeling gelding is unbeaten in three races on Cheltenham's cross country course and won the 1995 and 1996 runnings of this event.

Forced to miss last year's renewal because of a lung infection, he is reported to be back in tip-top form now.

Song Of The Sword can prove too smart for his rivals in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase.

Jim Old's charge, a former smart hurdler, has taken well to fences. Unbeaten in two attempts towards the end of last season, he completed a hat-trick over this course and distance last month when easily beating Shore Party.

Settrington trainer John Quinn , who does not send his horses on long journeys without good reason, saddles Cottage Prince in the Marchpole Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Quinn has booked the accomplished Graham Lee, who rode a winner for his boss Mary Reveley at Sedgefield on Tuesday, for the mount on his Ryedale raider.

At Newcastle, the St Modwen Handicap Chase looks a opportunity for Gaelic Blue to record his second success of the campaign.

Trained by the in-form Sue Smith at Bingley, Gaelic Blue made a successful start to the season at Towcester last week and a 6lb penalty should not be enough to prevent him from obliging again.

Gaelic Blue will be partnered by Seamus Durack, last season's champion amateur, who when scoring on Tessajoe at Sedgefield earlier this week lost his right to claim an allowance.

Bobby Grant, who finished runner-up to stable-mate Mast Wood at Carlisle last month, can go one better in the Gosforth Park Novices' Chase.

A former useful hurdler who was restricted to only one outing last season, Bobby Grant lost nothing in defeat in going down by five lengths to Master Wood on his reappearance. Sure to have derived considerable benefit from that outing, he is napped to score this time.

CHELTENHAM

1.15.............................Cavalero

1.50................Act Of Defiance

2.25..............................Forestal

3.00..........Song Of The Sword

3.35........McGregor The Third

4.05..................Cottage Prince

NEWCASTLE

12.55....................................Free

1.30............Bobby Grant (Nap)

2.05...............................Arrange

2.40....................Minster Glory

3.15.............................Joe Buzz

3.45.........................Gaelic Blue

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