Sheriff Hutton's Mark Walford eyes Cheltenham Festival winner (From York Press)

Sheriff Hutton's Mark Walford eyes Cheltenham Festival winner

10:27am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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SHERIFF Hutton amateur rider Mark Walford bids for glory at the Cheltenham Festival today.

Walford, assistant trainer to father Tim at Cornborough Manor, has been booked to ride Shillingstone in the last race on the card on day three of the Festival, the Kim Muir Fulke Walwyn Challenge Cup.

Shillingstone is trained by Robert and Sally Alner, in Dorset, the yard to which Mark's jockey brother Robert is attached.

The Alners have reportedly had this three mile handicap in mind for Shillingstone for some time and he has already won twice this season.

A sixth place at Sandown in February, his first action in three months, can be excused as he looked like he needed the run and he is second favourite with the bookmakers.

A Walford win would ensure Ryedale's grip on the trophy remained intact following Character Building's victory in the race, for Norton trainer John Quinn, 12 months ago.

Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby will be trying to rob Walford of glory with Wetherby winner Zitkenka, while Galant Nuit runs for West Witton's Cheltenham specialist Ferdy Murphy.

He could already be celebrating at least one other Festival winner by the time race comes around – with The Hollinwell expected to put up a big show in the opening Jewson Novices' Chase and Watch My Back a leading player in the Grade 3 Byrne Group Plate.

Murphy reported seven-year-old The Hollinwell put in a brilliant piece of work eight days ago, while he's also happy with the form of Watch My Back.

“Both are those are really well,” he said. “They've done their final bits up in Yorkshire and I am happy with both of them.”

Meanwhile, Kalahari King's owners, Neil and Julie Morgan, were delighted with their gelding's third place in yesterday's Seasons Holiday Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Murphy's star was second favourite to Master Minded but both were upstaged by 10-1 shot Big Zeb.

But Neil Morgan said: “How can we be disappointed with a horse that's just come third in the Champion Chase?

“If we'd have been offered that at the beginning of the season, we would have taken it. We are absolutely delighted with him, he's a proper Grade One horse.”

Elsewhere, Cape Tribulation looks like he has got his work cut out in the feature Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

The six-year-old, trained by Norton's Malcolm Jefferson, is up against Festival 'banker' Big Buck's in a brilliant field which also includes Tidal Bay, Katchit, Cousin Vinny and War of Attrition.

A career best performance will be needed if Cape Tribulation is to trouble the principals in the three mile contest but Jefferson reckons his charge is in good nick for a race which has been on his radar all season.