NORTH EAST hopes of victory in Cheltenham's £230,000 World Hurdle rest squarely on the shoulders of Howard Johnson's No Refuge (3.15).

The Graham and Andrea Wylie-owned gelding is bidding to supplement the sought-after three-miler to last year's SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, a race in which he powered up Prestbury Park's hill like a true champion.

Investors in Johnson's team have endured more woe than a Sunderland season ticket holder during the first two days of the meeting, however time and again previous winning Festival form works out in spades.

Given the fact the selection is so well suited by the place, there's every reason to believe No Refuge won't let the side down, despite preparations being far from smooth.

Everything went swimmingly to begin with when the six-year-old won on his Windsor reappearance last November, but then came a most uncharacteristic blip as he failed to fire at Sandown in early February.

"I thought we were going to win at Sandown and then he emptied on me," revealed regular rider Graham Lee, who will have his fingers crossed a repeat scenario doesn't precipitate a similar downfall.

Everyone involved with horses understands they're guilty of the occasional dirty trick, a point never better illustrated by Turpin Green's wayward antics on his latest racecourse foray.

Having cruised into the lead with only a furlong to travel, backers of Turpin Green were on exceptional terms with themselves and already forming an orderly queue in front of bookmaker's boards.

But from what appeared an unassailable winning position, Tony Dobbin's mount tossed away his chance by virtually pulling himself up to a standstill as he approached the final fence.

Dobbin performed miracles persuading Turpin Green to cross the last, although by then Tony McCoy had sailed past on Napolitain to snatch the spoils.

"He's never done anything like that before and it's probably a one-off," explained trainer Nicky Richards, whose charge is strongly fancied to make amends by coming good for the opening Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase.

Seeing as all three of Fondmort's most recent wins have come at Cheltenham, siding against the ten-year-old track specialist in the Ryanair Chase is simply not an option.

Starting a turf war versus Fondmort in his own front garden doesn't add up because Nicky Henderson's representative could find his way round blindfold, so well does he know every blade of grass.

It's very rare that rider Mick FitzGerald leaves without a winner over the entire four days, therefore since he's drawn a blank to date, Mick will be relying on his faithful old friend to make up for lost time.

Some of the biggest hitters in the ante-post betting market have nailed their colours to the mast of Basilea Star (4.40), who at this stage looks the likeliest market leader for the National Hunt Chase.

Many legs will turn to jelly by the end of the four-mile-and-one-furlong test, by far and away the longest race at the Festival, won in 2005 by the 40-1 Irish outsider Another Rum.

Sadly Basilea Star will start more akin to a 3-1 favourite and I think he'll prevail, with the proviso of having a small each-way saver on High Cotton, who runs in the silks made famous by Desert Orchid.

Although High Cotton remains a maiden at eleven years of age, Keith Reveley's raider demonstrated he stays today's extreme distance when runner-up in Newcastle's Eider Chase 19 days ago.

Ferdy Murphy's Carlys Quest (5.20) had plenty more behind than in front when fifth of 22 in last year's Pertemps Final.

Carlys Quest went on to win at the Punchestown Festival, proving himself to be a high-class staying hurdler.

"Ideally we could do with softer going," said Murphy, who also runs Nine de Sivola, by no means a second-string

Nine de Sivola, yet another successful import from France, reeled off an impressive hat-trick before getting stuck in a glue-pot at Uttoxeter 26 days ago.

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