Tim Easterby can celebrate the fifth anniversary of his only Cheltenham Festival winner tomorrow by doubling his score at National Hunt racing's greatest gathering.

The Great Habton trainer, previously triumphant with novice hurdler Barton, saddles Turgeonev in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.

I think David O'Meara's mount has excellent prospects. The nine-year-old has won two of his four races this season, ironically, beating Barton in the first of them, at Wetherby last November.

On his latest effort, in a a valuable handicap at Newbury earlier this month, he finished second to the in-form Isio over tomorrow's trip of two and a half miles.

Tough and consistent, Turgeonev is fancied to come out on top tomorrow and provide Easterby with a day to remember.

County Durham trainer Howard Johnson will also be directly in the firing line on day two of the Festival.

Johnson aims to get the day off to an excellent start by winning the opening Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle with Inglis Drever.

A former useful handicapper on the Flat with Sir Mark Prescott, Inglis Drever has taken to hurdling like the proverbial duck to water and has won all his three races in the style of a high-class recruit.

Graham Lee, bidding for his first Festival victory, has the task of guiding the five-year-old to a fourth success.

Johnson also has each-way claims in the National Hunt Chase for amateur riders with Boy's Hurrah. The eight-year-old is expected to relish the step up to four miles.

The £250,000 Queen Mother Champion Chase is the centrepiece of tomorrow's action and the clash between the 'big two' Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop promises to produce a race to savour.

My preference is for Moscow Flyer, the defending champion, who had his arch-rival four lengths in arrears when winning the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December.

There may not be that much between the pair tomorrow, given that Azertyuiop has been in such brilliant form since that defeat, but Moscow Flyer is again exepected to come out on top.

The Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase promises to be another crackerjack of a race, and my advice is to look beyond the leaders in the betting and opt for a bigger-priced runner.

Patricksnineteenth, who has never finished out of the first two in three outings this season, is closely matched with Calling Brave, but is double the price with some bookmakers.

At 20-1, he makes for outstanding value, and while he may have to raise his game again to win this Grade 1 prize, he will carry my Nap vote.

Rhinestone Cowboy misses today's Champion Hurdle in favour of tomorrow's Coral Cup, a handicap, in which he is set to carry top-weight.

The extra five furlongs of this event will suit him ideally and his proven class is expected to shine through.

Amateur rider JP Magnier, son of the owner, has the mount on Rhinestone Cowboy, who may have most to fear from Mon Villez, the mount of Andrew Tinkler.

Wednesday's tips:

Cheltenham

2.00 Inglis Drever, 2.35 Patricksnineteenth (Nap), 3.20 Moscow Flyer, 4.00 Rhinestone Cowboy, 4.35 Boy's Hurrah, 5.10 Turgeonev, 5.40 Total Enjoyment.

Wolverhampton

1.40 Super Canyon, 2.15 La Puce, 2.50 Just Wiz, 3.30 Monte Major, 4.10 Parker, 4.45 Knight To Remember, 5.20 Sungio.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Huntingdon.

Updated: 12:22 Tuesday, March 16, 2004