Trukers  Tavern can advertise his Tote Gold Cup claims with victory in the Bet Direct Peter Marsh Limited Handicap Chase at Haydock today.

He has long been held in the very highest regard by Middleham trainer Ferdy Murphy but he faces his acid test in the £60,000 contest at the Merseyside track.

But he has all the hallmarks of a good, old fashioned staying chaser and is bred to come into his own over trips of three miles or more.

It is to his credit that he performed with great distinction over trips short of his optimum as a novice, when his efforts included a gutsy fourth in the Arkle Trophy over two miles.

He was badly in need of the run when third at Kelso in December and his yard was not in the best of form. Much better was expected when he lined-up at Ascot later in the month and was sent off a well-backed favourite only to fall at the first.

Truckers Tavern's jumping has been sharpened up by numerous schooling sessions since and he can take this prize off what looks an attractive mark with the Murphy runners in much better form now.

Chief supporting contest is the Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle Trial.

And this looks a suitable opportunity for Flame Creek to enhance his Smurfit Champion Hurdle claims. Noel Chance thinks the world of him and he is one of the livelier outsiders for Festival glory.

He impressed in handicap company at Cheltenham on his latest start and has only been beaten once in five outings. Although he has form on testing ground, his trainer is adamant he will be much more effective on faster ground, so drying conditions today will be in his favour.

Also at Haydock The Bajan Bandit can maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Isle Of Skye Blended Whisky-Kelso Novices' Chase. Len Lungo's charge really looked to have got his act together over the bigger obstacles on his last start when slamming the useful Byron Lamb at Ayr.

Young Devereaux can strike for Paul Nicholls in the £80,000 Tote Exacta Chase at Kempton. He has been difficult to train and is lightly-raced as a result but there is no doubting he has bags of talent.

Clarendon is out for a four-timer in the Tote Lanzarote Hurdle and looks up to the task. Wincanton's Connaught PLC John Bull Chase is effectively a match between Edredon Bleu and Poliantas. Preference is for the former, who looked as good as ever when cruising home from Fadalko over course and distance in December.