Carlito's a Triumph

THE journey to Cheltenham has to start somewhere and Musselburgh may well be the jumping-off point for a major contender for one of the big prizes at next month's Festival.

The East Lothian course's management have built up today's John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle as a serious trial for the JCB Triumph itself and have been rewarded with the appearance of a potential star.

Carlito Brigante is trained in Ireland by Grand National-winning handler Gordon Elliott who has opted to bring him to Scotland instead of going for a similar trial in Ireland.

Priced at 12-1 for Cheltenham's Triumph, Carlito Brigante impressed when winning over course and distance in November and showed his high class by beating the highly-rated Alaivan at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

"He travelled over on Friday and we're going over in search of better ground," said Elliot yesterday.

"We had him in the Grade One at Leopardstown which he would have been favourite for, but the ground's gone heavy. They've had lots of rain.

"He's in good form, he's well, so we're hoping for a big run. He's won over the course and distance but he's improved an awful lot since then. This race will give him more experience and help get him ready for Cheltenham."

The big Festival news yesterday was that the two greatest National Hunt jockeys of the age, Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh, will contest the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard the two finest three-mile chasers in the world, Denman and Kauto Star respectively.

McCoy, the 14-times champion jockey, has yet to ride Denman, but will be in the saddle for the Aon Chase at Newbury next Saturday before renewing acquaintance at Cheltenham.

The decision on riding plans was taken unusually early to give Denman's connections the assurance that they would have the best rider available, and after Walsh, as stable jockey for Paul Nicholls, opted to stay with the Star, McCoy was the obvious choice as his retaining owner JP McManus has no entries in the Cup.

McCoy said: "I always thought for a long time, especially after last year's Gold Cup, that Kauto Star had the edge.

"But then what Denman did in the Hennessy really made me sit up and think again."

Walsh said: "Denman's performance at Newbury is going to be crucial and, in an ideal world, I'd have wanted to wait until after that race. Anyway, what's done is done and, as long as we both remain sound, Kauto and I will be seeking a third Gold Cup. "

Ayr's two-day Valentine's Meeting on Friday and Saturday will see the first racing of the year at the Craigie track.