Bookmakers were able to celebrate another ante-post coup yesterday as Cyfor Malta was pulled out of Saturday's Tripleprint Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham.

The talented five-year-old, trained by Martin Pipe, had been a rock solid favourite for the race since betting opened on Monday and was as short as 2 to 1 favourite in some lists.

First indications that all was not well with Cyfor Malta came yesterday afternoon when bookmakers were inundated with inquiries about other horses in the race. One of the biggest in demand was the ante-post favourite's stable-mate Northern Starlight.

Confirmation eventually came from Pipe when he revealed: "We're not 100 per cent happy with the horse and he won't be running at the weekend." So there must be every chance that Cyfor Malta, impressive winner of the Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, will be fit for the King George VI Tripleprint Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

Pipe is now likely to be represented in the £75,000-added race by Northern Starlight. He is set to be partnered by champion Tony McCoy although a spokeswoman for the stable could not confirm the jockey booking yesterday.

Cyfor Malta, a possible Gold Cup contender this season, had been all the rage for Saturday's race with William Hill spokesman David Hood declaring: "We laid plenty of the horse at 5 to 2 yesterday but it seems that he's not 100 per cent and won't run.

William Hill now make Stormy Passage the 11 to 4 favourite (from 9 to 2) but Ladbrokes and Corals have suspended betting until today.

Tripleprint Gold Cup Chase - Bet- ting (William Hill's updated prices): 11-4 Stormy Passage (from 9-2), 5-1 Simply Dashing (from 61), 6-1 Mr Strong Gale (from 13-2), 13-2 Super Coin (from 10-1), 10-1 Dr Leunt (from 12-1), Northern Starlight (from 16-1), Pete The Parson, 14-1 Queen Of Spades (from 16-1), 16-1 Jibber the Kibber, Mulligan, 20-1 Bertone, Potter's Bay, Senor El Betrutti, 25-1 All The Aces, Philips Woody, Addington Boy.