The Toiseach can restore his slightly tarnished reputation by defying top weight in the Stakis Westgate Casino Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster today.
The eight-year-old has not raced since an expensive failure in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in November. He was the subject of a gamble that day but the 5 to 1 shot was a bitter disappointment - pulled up before the final fence when tailed off behind fellow joint second favourite Teeton Mill.
Trainer James Fanshawe admitted that it had been a mistake running the gelding too soon after an impressive victory at Ascot a week earlier. The Hennessy had looked tempting when he trotted up 11 lengths from Court Melody over three miles at the Berkshire track.
The Toiseach has had plenty of time to recover and is reported in tip-top shape for this £30,000-added `showcase handicap'. He is something of a Doncaster specialist, having scored twice there last season over three and a quarter miles as well as today's trip of three miles.
The Toiseach holds an entry in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and victory, under 11st 13lb, would make him a lively outsider for steeplechasing's blue riband in March.
Barton can further enhance his status as one of the leading novice hurdlers around by stretching his unbeaten run to five in the River Don Novices' Hurdle.
The six-year-old is proving a real money-spinner for trainer Tim Easterby and his hard-fought victory over King's Road on his latest start at Sandown was franked when the runner-up went on to win a Grade One race at Newbury.
Lord Dorcet has failed to score since he lifted the Mansion House Handicap Chase at this meeting two years ago. However, his luck can change in the same race. Alistair Charlton's nine-year-old has run some tremendous races in defeat, notably when third to One Man in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last March.
Cyfor Malta has been forced to miss several engagements since he held Simply Dashing by a length in the Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November. It is all systems go again with the exciting French import and he can book his place at the Festival with a triumphant return in the Pillar Property Chase at Prestbury Park.
His trainer Martin Pipe unleashes another stable star in Unsinkable Boxer in the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase. The 10-year-old pulverised three rivals on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter and looks more than capable of conceding weight all round in this handicap as he has the potential to hold his own in much stronger company.
Commanche Court, winner of the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival in 1997, can strike for Ireland in the Marchpole Cleeve Hurdle. Ted Walsh's charge looked as good as ever when landing a Grade Three event at Leopardstown last month.
Behrajan can show his shock defeat of the highly-rated Hidebound at Sandown three weeks ago was no fluke by taking the Finesse Four Years Old Hurdle.
Lord Podgski looks the one to be on in the £15,000 Tote Gold Trophy Trial Handicap Hurdle at Ayr. The eight-year-old needed the run when an excellent second to Crystal Gift on this course four weeks ago after being sidelined for over a year through injury.
Burnt Imp, placed five times since winning at Kelso on his seasonal debut, can gain a well-deserved success in the `Neigh Sun Neigh Fun' Handicap Chase.
