DREAMS occasionally do come true so Andy Crook's hope of having a winner with his inaugural Cheltenham Festival runner Ryalux (5.05) is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Ryalux lines up for the Mildway of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with a real featherweight in the hands of Tony Dobbin, and the townsfolk of Middleham will be cock-a-hoop if their raider can return with the silverware.

Crook, who took over the reins from Micky Hammond at Oakwood Stables last May, has been full of praise for his nine-year-old in the lead up to the £70,000 event.

"The horse has been running consistently well in top handicaps under big weights, he'll think he's running loose with just ten stone on his back in the Mildmay," reported Andy.

Dobbin, off the mark yesterday on Len Lungo's Freetown, has a couple of other live prospects beginning with Racing North ten-to-follow pick, The Bajan Bandit (2.00), in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

If Lungo's imposing seven-year-old is to maintain his unbeaten record he will have to fend off an extremely strong maximum field. But not only does The Bajan Bandit physically appear every inch a champion, he also worked superbly on his final gallop at Ayr racecourse last Friday.

And in the later Coral Eurobet Cup Showcase Handicap Hurdle, Tony gets the leg up on his old friend Master Tern (3.15).

The combination have already enjoyed Festival glory when snatching the Millennium County Hurdle by a neck from the fast finishing Danegold. Since then Master Tern has been novice chasing, winning with his head in his chest at Leicester and Huntingdon.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill has opted to switch his charge back to timber and despite being untested at the distance of two-miles-and-five furlongs, Master Tern's proven course form may ultimately be the deciding factor.

The four-mile National Hunt Challenge Cup is always a war of attrition requiring the utmost courage from both horse and jockey.

The Irish, on the crest of a wave after plundering the first two Festival races, are well represented with the likes of Timbera and Billy The Snake.

Unfortunately from this side of the water it's hard to assess their individual merits, consequently I prefer to stick with the home team via Haut Cercy (4.30).

Henry Daly's gelding has been caught short for pace over three miles to date this term and seems sure to benefit from the step up to this marathon trip.

Bookmakers stand to lose a small fortune if either the well-backed Alexander Milenium or Rhinestone Cowboy take the closing Champion Bumper National Hunt Flat Race.

If they are to escape, Thisthatandtother could be the one to get them out of jail.

According to trainer Paul Nicholls the selection has been sparkling on the home gallops, a hint not to be dismissed llightly from one of the most powerful stables in the country.

* Irish punters struck an immediate blow as their favourite meeting resumed after a two-year break at Cheltenham yesterday. Like-A-Butterfly and Moscow Flyer returned to tremendous receptions after landing the first two races for the visiting team as business returned to normal at the National Hunt Festival following last year's abandonment.

But the former, a heavily-backed 7-4 favourite and rated Ireland's ''banker'' at the meeting, had fortune on her side in the opening Gerrard Supreme Novices' Hurdle as compatriot Adamant Approach was around a head up and travelling well when he fell at the final flight. Charlie Swan on Like-A-Butterfly, in the Istabraq colours of JP McManus, then had to get down to work to hold off Tony McCoy on Westender by a neck, with In Contrast another two and a half lengths back in third