IF the going is soft at Cheltenham, imperial Call will have a serious chance in the Gold Cup. Having made all the running to beat last year's 15 length Gold Cup winner, Master Oats, by six lengths in yesterday's £75,000 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, the Fergie Sutherland trained seven year old is second favourite at 5 to 1 behind the 11 to 8 shot One Man.

It was an incredible performance on the part of Imperial Call, a second season novice who set off for this race 15lb behind Master Oats in the official ratings.

Apart from getting close to and hitting the last fence, Imperial Call jumped perfectly for Conor O'Dwyer, who is riding at the top of his form this season. But the young chaser was three lengths clear of the pursuing Master Oats and, not a bit the worse for the error, surged away to win as he liked.

Imperial Call, who credited trainer and rider with their biggest successes to date, was the first home trained winner of this race since Jim Dreaper saddled Carvill's Hill to triumph in 1989.

The winner, who had beaten Champion Chase bound Strong Platinum over two miles and a quarter here a month a go was crying out for distance. Incidentally, he puts Strong Platinum who gave him 12lb on that occasion, into context.

Well, the inimitable Fergie Sutherland has always had the up most faith in Imperial Call. He was pretty tit today, and certainly the extra weak was a big help. Of course, there was no point in running him in a race like this if he was not bloody tit. He is only a seven year old and is sure to improve not like me who is getting worse with age He will run in the Gold Cup as long as the ground is not hard."

Sutherland, now based in West Cork, trained at Clive Brittain's Carlburg Stables in Newmarket until 1963, producing numerous winners including a Queen Mary success at Royal Ascot.

Master Oats may improve on that run, but it is hard to see him turn the tables at Cheltenham. Jamie Osborne, his jockey in place of the injured Norman Williamson, was impressed by the winner's performance, believing only ground more testing than yesterday's soft conditions would improve his mount's chances at Cheltenham.

"His only chance of reversing the form at Cheltenham would be softer ground and the extra trip. He's taken a pull two out. We needed a miracle to win and I thought we'd got it when he hit the last" he reported.

Flashing Steel was not suited by yesterday's soft ground, but he was beaten from a long way out. Life Of A Lord. similarly inconvenienced by the ground, was pulled up before the last, having run prominently. He will now be trained for the Martell Grand National.

The Paul Carberry partnerd Bolino Star, the only contender in the 11 strong field for the Deloitte and Touche Novice Hurdle not entered for one of the novice hurdles as Cheltenham, pinged she last night and that jump effectively settled the issue for the bean Treacy trained mare. She beat Noble Thyne by a head, with Mucklemeg three lengths back.

Noble Thyne and Mucklemeg will renew rivalry in the Sun Alliance Hurdle. The former appeared to land flat footed after a novice like jump over the last and, according to Richard Dunwoody, Mucklemeg blew up after the last

Treacy and Paul Carberry looked poised to complete a fine double in the Win Electric Novice Chase when the front running Spankers Hill sailed over the second last ahead of Major Rumpus. However, Major Rumpus fought back and stayed on well to win by seven lengths, with the odds on favourite Treble Bob a remote fourth.

Shaunies Lady, one of four Aidan O'Brien trained entries for the Triumph Hurdle, was beaten a length and a half in the RTE Spring Hurdle by the blinkered Paddy Mullins trained Talina's Law, who was not entered for the Cheltenham lottery. It transpired that Shaunies Lady has been in season since last Thursday, but her handler took the gamble on running her as she needed a prep race for the Festival.

Mullins appears to have his charges in tip top form. Beakstown defied top weight to win the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle in a pulsating finish from Miltonfield, Ros Castle and Clifdon Fog and will now be trained for either the Citroen Supreme Novice Hurdle or the County Handicap Hurdle.

On hearing that there is a £50,000 bonus to the winner of yesterday's race and the County Hurdle, the trainer now favours the latter event.