TRAINERS raking around for alternative engagements following the postponement of this week's Cheltenham Festival have had to bite the bullet and send some of their stable-stars in search of much humbler pickings at Huntingdon this afternoon.

The apple of Mary Reveley's eye, Function Dream (3.40) is one such example. The nine-year-old mare was many punters' idea of a banker bet for the Festival, but now she finds herself in the unenviable situation of carrying top-weight in the trappy Hugo Bevan Handicap.

Neither is the two-and-a-half-mile trip completely ideal for the specialist two-miler, nevertheless Function Dream's extra class may just carry the day.

Another pair who would certainly have been heading for the Festival, Fait le Jojo and Pedro Pete (2.10), line up for the opening Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

There's little to choose between the duo on form, however the latter just gets the nod given the assumption he will be best suited by the flat left-handed nature of the track.

One general rule of thumb when betting is never take a short price about a novice chaser. That said, barring a fall Behrajan appears to be head and shoulders above the opposition in the 2.40.

Paul Webber might easily have a 1-2 in the two-mile Handicap Chase at 4.40 via Road Racer and Starbuck.

Significantly Jimmy McCarthy, who partnered Road Racer last time, switches to Starbuck despite his mount not have run for 344 days, surely an indicator of which way the shrewd Irish jockey thinks the contest will go.

Michael Chapman's progressive four-year-old Colombe d'Or (1.55) might be the answer to a difficult opener on the sand at Wolverhampton.

The selection has not been harshly-treated by the Official Handicapper having won his maiden at Soutwhell in somewhat cheeky fashion.

Consistency is the hallmark of the David Barron-trained Frilly Front (3.25), back on a winning mark in the Bet Direct Handicap.

The pacey sprint mare had no luck in running whatsoever when fourth to Off Hire over course and distance 16 days ago.

l 11-2 shot ANSTAND landed the nap selection for Janus at Wolverhampton yesterday.

l Officials at Cheltenham yesterday ended the uncertainty surrounding the Festival by announcing new dates for the meeting.

The three-day fixture will start five weeks later than originally scheduled, kicking off on April 17 the day after Easter Monday.

Cheltenham's two day-meeting scheduled for April 18-19 has been scrapped, although officials are looking at saving some of the races by running them at the evening meeting on May 2.

The Festival was postponed last Wednesday when it was discovered the course could not meet British Horseracing Board guidelines governing racing during the current foot and mouth crisis.

The new dates mean that the Festival would not clash with the meeting at Punchestown the following week, should the Irish authorities allow it to go ahead.

However, it will coincide with the prestigious Craven meeting at Newmarket which features the first Classic trials of the season.

Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie said: ''We at Cheltenham are only too conscious of the continuing foot and mouth crisis and the effect this is having on so many of our customers. However, there is a balance to be struck.

''We are convinced that we can safely conduct a successful race meeting and that, so long as racing continues and the racecourse remains outside an infected area, then we should make every effort to hold the meeting.

Should the foot-and-mouth crisis rule out the April meeting the Festival would be lost.

However, the 10 championship races at the meeting, including the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup could still be run elsewhere.

l Sedgefield's meeting next Tuesday has become the latest to fall victim to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The course, which has lost two meetings already this month, cannot meet the guidelines laid down by the Jockey Club.

A statement from the course said: ''It is with regret that we have to announce the abandonment of next Tuesday's race meeting.

''Following new guidelines produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and issued by the Jockey Club, it will not be possible to hold our race meeting scheduled for Tuesday March 20.We are hopeful that measures can be put in place as soon as possible to be able to recommence racing at the earliest possible time.