MALCOLM JEFFERSON’S Newstead Stables are flying and the Norton trainer will be hoping to strike while the iron is hot with Cape Tribulation as the Cheltenham Festival gets under way today.

The 11-year-old goes in the Grade 3 Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase (2.40pm) at a track he loves, having won the Pertemps Final at the four-day jumps spectacular three years ago.

Cape Tribulation returned to Prestbury Park to win the Argento Chase at the start of 2013 before finishing a highly creditable fifth in the blue riband Gold Cup that March.

The former was his last win but, having been in the doldrums for much of the campaign, Jefferson’s runners have exploded into life at just the right time - the veteran handler having saddled five winners from his last 12 runners.

If Cape Tribulation is approaching his best, the son of Hernando, ridden by Brian Hughes, would be attractively weighted but he must overcome a startling trend to enter the winner’s enclosure in glory once more.

Although The Package placed in this race last season, he was only the second horse aged 11 or over to do so from 47 who have attempted the feat since 1997.

And after finishing runner-up to Dolatulo on Boxing Day in Wetherby's Rowland Meyrick Chase, Cape Tribulation was subsequently pulled up at Kelso and was tenth in the Pertemps Network Hurdle at Haydock last month.

Robert Walford, the former jockey who now trains in Dorset but was brought up in Sheriff Hutton, will have his fingers crossed that Carole’s Spirit can run to a place in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (4pm).

The seven-year-old, a winner at Kempton last November and then second at Ascot to Bitofapuzzle in January, is up against the formidable Annie Power and Walford can’t see a way past Willie Mullins’ super mare in the Grade 1 two-and-a-half mile contest.

“I don't think she could beat Annie Power if she had 100 goes at her, but maybe she could be placed,” said Walford.

 "We have been concentrating on trying to straighten up her jumping, because she jumped a bit right at Ascot. That seems fine now. If Annie Power turns up in top form, everyone is competing for a place - it's as simple as that."