BIBLE LORD has been all the rage this week for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and can realise his connections' long-term plan with victory at Cheltenham.

Trainer Andy Turnell has had one eye on the extended two-and-a-half-mile heat for some time now and his patience can pay off as Bible Lord sneaks into the field on a handy-looking mark.

The seven-year-old has always been highly thought of and his bare form figures from last year do not really do him justice as he possibly did not see out the trip in the Hennessy or at Aintree.

His Racing Post Plate fourth was also marred by a couple of jumping errors. However, Bible Lord put up a satisfactory performance on his reappearance, finishing third behind Ouzbeck over this course and distance last month, although some fencing mistakes did creep in again.

Turnell expects his runner to improve for that outing and a similar effort should see him thereabouts in the finish.

Karanja - once rated as a potential star hurdler - is a sporting selection for the Servco Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase.

Victor Dartnall's nine-year-old had the look of a promising prospect in his bumper days but he never quite fulfilled his potential over hurdles.

He beat Leading Attraction off level weights when stepped up to the bigger obstacles last year and with the latter giving the form a boost when running well at Wincanton last week, Karanja has sound claims.

Barry Geraghty has high hopes of a second success in the race when he teams up with the Barbers Shop.

The Co Meath jockey, who took the corresponding race on Martin Pipe's Cyfor Malta in 2002, is having his first ride for Queen Elizabeth. And he will be hoping to cement his new partnership with Nicky Henderson, the Seven Barrows trainer also having taken the valuable handicap chase with Fondmort five years ago.

"I jumped a few fences on him this morning and he seems well and I'm looking forward to it," said Geraghty yesterday. "He ran well last year in the Jewson and I'd be hopeful."

Barbers Shop was beaten a neck in the Festival contest by Finger On the Pulse, ridden by Geraghty. "I beat him in that race but he's a promising young horse, he looks well and I've not ridden for the Queen before," he added.

Tom Scudamore rides the unknown quantity of the race, David Pipe's Piraya, a recent French import and 12 to 1 with the sponsors.

Pipe has suggested that the five-year-old would run a very big race but Scudamore admits that until he has run connections will not know his true ability. "It's his first run in England, he's done plenty of schooling and I had a sit on him the other morning and gave him a school and he felt like a nice horse," said Scudamore.

"Obviously we won't know until he runs and it is a high-class race but he gave me a nice feel, his form in France is plenty good enough and I'm hoping he'll run a big race." However, Bible Lord will be a hard act to beat.

Charlie Mann's Sullumo finished second on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow and can take the Cleanevent Handicap Hurdle.