MANDYS MANTINO, a high-class novice last season, can confirm his arrival in the 'senior' chasing ranks by lifting the £75,000 Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Trained by the in-form Josh Gifford and the mount of Philip Hide who won this race five years ago with Bradbury Star when it was still known as the Mackeson, Mandys Mantino has an excellent chance of giving the Findon team another victory to savour.

An excellent third to Champleve in the Arkle Trophy on this course in March, the eight-year-old made a most encouraging return to action at Ascot last month when third to Dontleavethenest under the welter burden of 11st 9lb.

Sure to have benefited from that outing, Mandys Mantino is napped to capture this richly-endowed showpiece.

Dance So Suite has an excellent chance of making his journey from Ireland a success by winning the Mackeson Novices' Hurdle.

Edward O'Grady's gelding is unbeaten in four starts over timber and was far from disgraced on his latest outing on the Flat when sixth to Sweetness Herself in the Irish Cesarewitch. Norman Williamson has the mount.

The £16,000 Sean Graham Bookmakers Chase takes pride of place at Ayr.

With Dorans Pride now a non-runner, this handicap has taken on a whole new complexion. One not to leave out of calculations is Seven Towers, a crack staying chaser at his best, who will have gained enormous benefit from his comeback run at Wetherby a fortnight ago. Mary Reveley's charge merits plenty of respect with Peter Niven in the saddle.

Sleepy River who made a winning start to the season at Kelso two weeks ago, is fancied to double his score by winning the Sean Graham Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old scored by an emphatic three and a half lengths from Primitive Heart and is selected to confirm those placings with the runner-up tomorrow, despite having risen in the handicap. Richard McGrath again has the mount.

At Market Rasen, Good Vibes will be sent off at short odds to land his first win over fences in the Clugston Novices' Chase. Tim Easterby's gelding, a useful hurdler last season, finished a good second to the high-class Whip Hand on his chasing debut on this course three weeks ago.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.