DEFENDING champion Looks Like Trouble (3.15) is a very confident choice for this afternoon's £300,000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The foot-and-mouth epidemic put paid to the Festival in 2001, but no one should lose sight of the fact that Looks Like Trouble was a hugely impressive winner of the Millennium running of the race, trouncing Florida Pearl by five lengths.

First run in 1924, only five horses - L'Escargot, Eastern Hero, Golden Miller, Cottage Rake and Arkle - have won the Gold Cup twice.

It's a roll of honour worthy of dwelling upon for many more words than this column will allow, nevertheless I feel Looks Like Trouble is fully capable of joining that illustrious quintet.

Ante-post punters certainly agree as he's been a warm favourite since dashing to an electrifying win on his comeback at Wincanton last month.

And a couple of scintillating racecourse gallops over the past few weeks have confirmed the well-being of Noel Chance's handsome gelding, all he has to do now is stay sound.

That is the $64,000 question, because shortly after taking the James Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal in spectacular fashion in November 2000, Looks Like Trouble was found to have heat in his near-fore tendon.

It's every trainer's nightmare, however Lambourn-based Chance and owner Tim Collins took the plunge and had the horse's legs fired the following month.

The operation was hailed to be a success when, after having over a year off in which to recover, Looks Like Trouble came through his prep race 54 days ago with flying colours.

Now is the true test, and with 17 seriously talented rivals, his task will not be easy.

But in any sport, injury permitting, class will always prevail and Look Like Trouble has been truly blessed with lorry loads of the stuff.

l Champion trainer Martin Pipe belatedly got off the mark at the Festival when Ilnamar took the Coral Eurobet Cup yesterday.

With stable jockey Tony McCoy opting to ride disappointing favourite Golden Alpha from Pipe's six-strong team in the race, it was left to Rodi Greene to steer the ex-French gelding to a clear-cut success.

Greene seized the limelight to seal the biggest win of his career as the 25-1 chance stormed home eight lengths clear from the Jonjo O'Neill-trained pair Joss Naylor and Master Tern, with Stromness fourth.

Only 24 hours earlier Pipe had been dealt a devastating blow with the loss of his star hurdler Valiramix, who fractured a shoulder in a tragic accident during the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

The loss of the horse was clearly still on the mind of the trainer as he celebrated Ilnamar's success.

''It's nice to get a win on the board and nice for Rodi,'' said Pipe.

''Ilnamar couldn't seem to get used to the English fences and that is why he is back over hurdles but he had some good form in France.

''I ran six in the race and I thought four of them had a good chance and he was one of them."