GRAHAM McCOURT can start Cheltenham week on a high with an across-the-card double from Lance Armstrong and Uncle Bert today.

The 36-year-old, one of the few current jockeys to have won the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup, is unlikely to be a prominent figure at this year's Festival.

But McCourt will be more concerned with maintaining the fine run of form shown by his stable's runners since he took over the training licence from his mother earlier this year.

He should take the Wivelsfield Novices' Chase at Plumpton with Lance Armstrong whom he partners himself.

McCourt also had the mount at Windsor last month when it took all his strength in the saddle to hold off Balky Clover by two lengths in a driving finish.

He was actually banned for two days for excessive use of the whip that day, a blow lessened by the fact the six-year-old had given him his first winner as a trainer.

A hard race is unlikely to have left its mark on the tough Lance Armstrong, who takes on less exacting opposition this time and should defy a penalty.

McCourt has booked Dan Fortt for stable-companion Uncle Bert, who can also follow up a recent success in the Royal Bath & West Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase at Taunton.

The six-year-old was no great shakes as a hurdler, but he promises to prove a good deal better over fences judged on his debut in a novice handicap over this course and distance last month.

He jumped the tricky fences like an old hand and won with more authority than his one-length winning margin over Abavard might suggest.

Uncle Bert has the makings of a handicapper and should see off his exposed rivals off a mark just 5lb higher this time.