THE Easterby family cannot be considered strangers to success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Peter having captured the Blue Riband of the chasing world with Little Owl in 1981.

Nowadays it is his son, Tim, in charge at Habton Grange Stables, home to another live Gold Cup contender, Barton. But before Barton launches his challenge at the Festival in March, he must first prove he has overcome a foot injury sustained last year by winning this afternoon's £60,000 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

For the record Little Owl also won the Peter Marsh prior to his glory day at Cheltenham, and provided Barton's foot problem has not had any lasting ill-effects, there is no reason why he should not slip-stream in Little Owl's flight path.

There's no cribbing Barton's credentials, he's already an established top-class National Hunt performer having won the Royal SunAlliance Hurdle at Prestbury Park in 1999. Last season he switched to fences, rounding off a highly satisfactory first campaign over the bigger obstacles by winning the Grade 2 Martell Mildmay Novices' Chase over three-miles-and-one-furlong.

It was a brilliant effort, combining breathtaking speed with a series of bold jumps to rout a field packed with decent young chasers. As usual top northern pilot was in the saddle and Peter Easterby confirmed Dobbin's presence in the Haydock feature. "Barton is in good form and Tony Dobbin rides him," he reported.

There's also the heart-warming prospect of a northern one-two in the race because Peter Beaumont's Hussard Collonges has a serious chance.

Apparently all is ship-shape with Hussard Collonges, successful at last year's Festival in the Royal SunAlliance Novices' Chase. "He came out of the Hennessy well and I'm quite happy with him," said Beaumont, who sent out Jodami to take the Peter Marsh in 1993.

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