HOWARD JOHNSON'S master plan to side-step the Cheltenham Festival with Mephisto (4.55) in favour of Aintree looks all set to come to fruition.

Mephisto, a former winner of the Europe's most valuable Flat handicap, the 2004 Ebor at York, has taken to hurdling like a duck to water. Yet another extremely expensive purchase by Graham and Andrea Wylie, the six-year-old's most recent victory came at Kelso, where he gave weight and a beating to previous hat-trick scorer, Faasel.

Mephisto's jockey, Graham Lee, will be hoping one of his opponents steps on the gas early doors since his mount prefers to sit in behind, prior to pouncing over the final couple of flights.

With only ten runners in the line-up for the £50,000 John Smith's Mersey Novices Hurdle, such a scenario is far from assured, but if it does materialise, I reckon the money is as good as in the bag for Johnson's classy gelding

The in-form Johnson/Lee combo is also represented by Gold Cup fifth, Grey Abbey (2.35), in the feature event on the card, the Grade 2 £150,000 Betfair Bowl Chase.

Robert Alner's representative, Sir Rembrandt, actually finished two places in front of Grey Abbey at Cheltenham, but there is a suspicion the latter's preparation suffered due to a minor joint problem.

If that was the case, Grey Abbey might well get his revenge over Sir Rembrandt, now the dashing grey has been restored to full fitness.

The Fox Hunters Chase, which takes place over the Grand National course, is always a spectacular affair run at a breakneck pace.

Even though Gun'n Roses 11 (3.45) has twice fallen in Nationals, he normally jumps like the proverbial stag.

The point was hammered home by his fluent all-the-way success at Haydock in February, a race in which he put his rivals to sleep with a simply superb exhibition of fencing.

Mark Johnston's 2,000 Guineas entry, Nufoos (4.30), reappears at Leicester in the six-furlong Loddington Conditions Stakes.

Nufoos, who won over track and trip last year, clearly relishes the stiff finish at the Midlands course, a factor likely to catch out one or two of the opposition in an event sure to throw up plenty of future winners.

Mark's stable also had an outstanding chance of capturing the gg.com Maiden Stakes via Hiddensee (3.20).

Hiddensee made a most promising comeback at Doncaster's Lincoln meeting, finishing a close-up third, despite being relatively unconsidered in the betting market.

The selection's pedigree strongly suggests he'll be suited by today's step-up in trip to a mile-and-a-half, a distance over which the yard's inmates often excel.

* Spring Breeze was a 13/2 winning nap selection for Janus (Colin Woods) at Catterick yesterday.

* Carlisle have been forced to abandon their hurdle races on Sunday, April 17 due to the state of the track and will instead stage an all-chase card.

* Chris Kinane, assistant trainer to Ian Williams, remains in a critical condition after receiving a kick to the head in the parade ring at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.

The 48-year-old was knocked unconscious and is in Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

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