CHELTENHAM has always been a happy hunting ground for Paddy's Return, a leading contender for this afternoon's feature event, the £30,000 Sporting Index Cross Country Chase.

Paddy's Return began his love affair with the headquarters of jump racing by winning the 1996 Triumph Hurdle, and he has since twice been placed at the Festival in the valuable Stayers Hurdle.

Adrian Maguire's mount should be well-suited by the near four-mile trip, and will not be inconvenienced by the course's unique configuration, which incorporates many unusual obstacles to negotiate, including hedges and banks.

It seems amazing that a near top-class two miler such as Jungli (1.45) has yet to score at Prestbury Park.

But if jockey Jimmy McCarthy has anything to do with it the current situation might be all change after the £20,000 Ernest & Galio Trophy.

McCarthy is a most underrated rider, although Jungli's trainer Paul Webber has always had the utmost faith in the Irishman's ability.

Last time out at Wetherby the selection enjoyed a more-than-pleasing pipe-opener over hurdles, an outing likely to have put the bold jumping eight-year-old spot-on for today's contest.

In the closing Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, the enigmatic Henry's Island (4.00) looks worth an each-way punt.

Amanda Bowlby's gelding has been known to momentarily plant himself as the tapes rise, but a recent lucrative spell on the flat might just have sweetened him up no end in preparation for his return to the jumping arena.

All eyes will be on Barton (1.20) at Newcastle, where Tim Easterby's stable-star surely only has to stand up in order to take the Flooring Novices' Chase.

Admittedly he was beaten at short odds on his fencing debut at Wetherby, but the trip of two miles was all against him, not to mention the fabulous performance put up by his conqueror, Mary Reveley's October Mist.

With nothing of the calibre of the latter in the line-up, plus an extra half-mile to travel, Barton's task could not be simpler, provided he slots in a clear round.

Connections didn't reckon Dan de Man (3.05) would be 100 per cent fit for his successful reappearance at Haydock last week, hence his juicy starting price of 14-1.

If indeed that was the case, it's fairly safe to assume he'll be even sharper for the Betsmart Handicap Hurdle, a contest well within the compass of Lyn Siddall's useful ten-year-old.

Eagle-eyed form experts will doubtless have spotted that Southwell-bound Soldier Point (2.40) has a decent chance in the seven furlong Arenaleisure.com Handicap.

Solder Point has been running with credit on the turf in generally far tougher company than he faces today. His keen style, together with a handy low draw and Joe Fanning's mastery in the saddle, also bodes extremely favourably for Patrick Haslam's Middleham raider.

Haslam's bid to complete a double in the following Claiming Stakes with previous course scorer, It was Meant To Be, could conceivably be thwarted by Knavesmire Omen (3.15).

Knavesmire Omen ran well enough at when third at Newmarket last time to suggest he'll be in a different league to his rivals.

* Timmy Murphy will miss out on several possible big pay days in the saddle after being handed a three-day whip ban by the Taunton stewards yesterday.

Murphy was found guilty of using his stick with excessive frequency when out of contention aboard unplaced Lady Vienna in the Royal Welsh Regiment Selling Handicap Hurdle