ALTHOUGH Cheltenham has not been a happy hunting ground for trainer Mary Reveley over recent seasons, the pendulum could start to swing the other way if Left Bank can win the opener at Prestbury Park today.

On the evidence of his latest cosy victory at Wetherby, Left Bank (12.45), who is still only a six-year-old, might just to prove to be a young chaser to follow this term. He's certainly got the physical attributes required to tackle Cheltenham's stiff fences, which require the utmost respect if disaster is to be avoided.

"He's lazy and we put blinkers on him, but he disappointed in them second time so he wears cheekpieces," said Mary.

Left Bank isn't the first horse to be rejuvenated by the fitting of cheekpieces, nor will he be the last judging by the major impact that the device, otherwise known as Australian blinkers, have had on the British racing scene during the summer months.

There could be yet more success for our region if George Moore's Latensaani (3.05) completes a four-timer in the Barnett Waddingham Novices' Hurdle.

Latensaani blundered away a winning opportunity on his hurdles debut at Sedgefield in September, but has since rattled off an impressive hat-trick.

Latensaani leaps like a gazelle, often gaining a valuable length or two in the air. Such prowess over his obstacles makes him an exciting prospect because in harness with a precocious jumping talent he also possesses a fair amount of flat race speed.

Fast ground has so far prevented Henrietta Knight from unleashing her Gold Cup hero, Best Mate. Fortunately she has an embarrassment of riches in the chasing division, including Perfect Fellow (3.40), fancied to make a winning reappearance in the Studd Challenge Cup Chase.

Perfect Fellow's career appeared to be in jeopardy a couple of years ago when he suffered a stress fracture of the leg. Given time to recover, he bounced back in December 2001 to win a competitive handicap at Kempton.

Cynics will point out that the eight-year-old hasn't been seen out for nearly 11 months and might not be fully wound up. But his class may well pull him through, especially in such a small field.

Darryll Holland's presence aboard Robbie Can Can (1.05) in the Clovercourt Hotel Claiming Stakes at Yarmouth is an encouraging sign.

Holland was in the saddle when the James Given-trained three-year-old kept on at one pace to finish third at the course over a mile-and-a-half in a far superior event in September.

A repeat of that level of form over today's extra two furlongs should be good enough against a bunch of essentially modest opponents.

Former Ascot scorer Downland (4.00) has crashed down the Official Ratings to such a ludicrously low mark that if he does return to anything like his best, the closing seven-furlong John Slapp Bookmakers Handicap will be at his mercy.

* Supporters of Janus were in the money yesterday when his nap International Guest (7-4), plus next best, Arabian Moon (5-2), both won.

* Howard Johnson is hoping to get a racecourse gallop into his stable star Direct Route next week.

The County Durham trainer took the 11-year-old to Carlisle on Saturday but underfoot conditions were not suitable for this fast-ground specialist.

''We took him to Carlisle but the ground was that bad so I'm going to have to take him somewhere on dry ground,'' Johnson said.

''I'll try and get him up to Musselburgh next week.''

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