SHALBEBLUE might leave the bookmakers with a few headaches at Cheltenham this afternoon if he lands the Club 16-24 Handicap Hurdle.

Brian Ellison's Malton-based raider helped lighten the load of a number of satchels when he obliged at Sedgefield last time out, out-battling Red Sun in a nip and tuck duel to the line.

On the evidence of the bare form it's hard to envisage Shalbeblue (3.15) being good enough to follow-up at the Headquarters of National Hunt racing - however, winning jockey Tony McCoy did report that his charge was unsuited by both the slow ground and sharp track.

Ellison has ensured the two vital criteria outlined by McCoy have now been put right since Cheltenham is arguably the stiffest course in the country, and provided the rain stays away underfoot conditions promise to be perfect.

McCoy is ineligible to partner Shalbeblue because the contest is restricted to conditional jockeys, but Vinny Keane is a more than able substitute and in any case the reigning champ should get on the score-sheet in the earlier Jewson Handicap Hurdle aboard Westender (2.05).

Martin Pipe's five-year-old has made a smooth transition from the flat to jumps by reeling off an impressive hat-trick over timber. And it's not hard to see just why Westender has done so well with a high cruising speed plus smart finishing kick at his disposal.

The Host Partnership Chase represents the feature event on the card, a race in which the Pipe/McCoy combination may well also come out on top with a newcomer to their stable, Shooting Light (3.50).

He's been an underachiever over fences for Pat Murphy over the past couple of seasons, nevertheless Shooting Light remains a very capable performer on his day and it would come as no surprise if Pipe had improved the gelding some 8-10lbs on the home gallops.

Over to Fontwell where Lysandros (2.30) has been found a winning opportunity by Noel Chance.

He returned from a near two-year absence at Towcester recently and was far from disgraced in fourth spot behind Night Fighter.

Two factors persuade me to recommend Lysandros.

Firstly he was nibbled at in the ring, suggesting connections were confident of a good run. And secondly, the gelding will surely strip a far fitter individual with the benefit of that outing under his belt.

Yesterday's penalty kick, Eastern Image, obliged with the minimum of fuss at Redcar, a feat I'm hoping today's equivalent, Coole Spirit (3.40), repeats.

Emma Lavelle's consistent eight-year-old ran a succession of encouraging races last term and should have the measure of his opponents in the Rowland Novices' Chase if anywhere near his peak.

An uninspiring flat fixture completes the bill at Yarmouth where Raise A Prince (1.10) makes plenty of appeal in the opening Newport Claiming Stakes.

A couple of years ago Sean Woods' horse would have picked this lot up, carried them, and still won. Raise A Prince has clearly regressed significantly since then, although not to the extent that he wouldn't have a great chance in this lowly affair.

l Aidan O'Brien, confirmed his determination to complete a clean sweep of all ten European Group One races for two-year-old colts this season by leaving in nine in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.

They are Sholokhov, Mutinyonthebounty, Ballingarry, Castle Gandolfo, Landseer, Camp David, Century City, High Sierra and Diaghilev.

The first two named are his most likely representatives in the mile feature.

Paul Cole's Guys And Dolls and Clive Brittain's Halawellfin were the two remaining British acceptors