GOOD vibes from the gallops at Middleham suggest Truckers Tavern (3.05) is going to take charge of Cheltenham's feature event, the £80,000 Pillar Property Chase.

"The horse is in fantastic form and I couldn't be more pleased with him," said his trainer Ferdy Murphy, who began the week on a less upbeat note by parting company with stable jockey Davy Russell.

Russell's departure from Murphy's Wensleydale base means a change of pilot for Truckers Tavern, who is now to be ridden by Tony Dobbin.

Russell has not spoken specifically about the setback, although he must be totally gutted in the view of the fact that he steered "Truckers" to a glorious second placing behind Best Mate in last year's Gold Cup.

Dobbin, on the other hand, is ecstatic at the thought of partnering Murphy's high-class nine-year-old, saying: "It's a brilliant ride for me.

He seems very well, although a drop of rain would not go amiss for the Pillar."

In a top-quality line-up for the extended three-mile-and-one-furlong showpiece, Howard Johnson's Valley Henry also makes the long journey down from our region

He's another big-money purchase by computer magnate Graham Wylie, but just like fellow leading contender Jair du Cochet, flopped in Kempton's King George on Boxing Day.

Clearly the last-named duo now have something to prove, although it would be utter folly to write either off simply on the basis of one bad day.

The other big talking point of the race surrounds the presence of Martin Pipe's unbeaten novice, Therealbandit.

He's just a babe in arms as far as fencing goes and despite all of his dazzling brilliance, taking on confirmed chasing giants such as Truckers Tavern is a different ball game.

I'm not suggesting Therealbandit is a no-hoper, however, but he will have to up the ante considerably on what he has achieved so far if he's going to mix it punch-for-punch in the big boys' playground.

Not many ex-Polish racehorses cut the mustard in this country, Kombinacja (12.55) being one of the few exceptions to the rule.

Tom George's mare won the equivalent of the three-year-old's triple crown in her native country on the Flat.

She has taken time to adjust to the rough-and-tumble of jump racing but has managed to pick up a couple of novices' hurdles and doesn't look badly in at the weights for the opening Hussars Handicap Hurdle.

George also has an excellent opportunity of landing the following Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase with Curtins Hill (1.30).

I like this horse immensely, having twice witnessed him putting in a clear round at Prestbury Park, not to mention battling like a lion when running a super race in defeat, just a half-length behind Ankles Back at Leicester this month.

Not for the first time the Haydock ground is reported to be heavy and it's no surprise that Sue Smith does exceptionally well there because the emphasis is very much on fitness, combined with the ability to negotiate the notoriously difficult fences.

All of the inmates get from one side to the other of their obstacles in proficient fashion, including Tipsy Mouse (2.55), who bids to repeat December's course-and-distance triumph in the Annual Badgeholders Handicap Chase.

Not once out of the first two on any of his last six starts, Tipsy Mouse represents the epitome of consistency.

The going at the Merseyside track is heavy, soft in places, but clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright is confident there will be no problems with the meeting going ahead.

He said: ''It's been dry for the last two days and just showers are predicted today. It's pretty sticky ground and it will be a long slog but we're confident tomorrow will go ahead.''

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