Horseracing: Cyfor Malta ready to return to action

Cyfor Malta is expected to make his eagerly-awaited return to action at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Cyfor Malta is expected to make his eagerly-awaited return to action at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The horse has not run since beating Go Ballistic and See More Business in this race two years' ago.

Owner David Johnson and trainer Martin Pipe have also entered Thomas Pink Gold Cup winner Lady Cricket, while Pipe could also be represented by Strong Tel.

Go Ballistic, who also chased home Looks Like Trouble in this race last year, will attempt to make it third-time lucky this season.

The gelding was unplaced in the King George VI Chase last time.

Trainer Richard Phillips said: "He'll run at Cheltenham, it has always been the plan.

"It should suit him a lot better than Kempton."

Other notable entries include Whitbread Gold Cup winner Beau and Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero Lord Noelie.

A star-studded Cheltenham card also includes the Grade One Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle.

The race will see the Venetia Williams-trained Lady Rebecca attempt to complete a hat-trick of victories in the race, having been brought back into action after failing to get into foal last year.

Bloodstock agent David Redvers, who bought and part owns the mare, said: "She worked as well as ever on Saturday morning and they were very pleased with her.

"With any luck she's back to her best and obviously we wouldn't want it to be too heavy.

"She won the race last year first time out so that shouldn't be a problem. A third Cleeve Hurdle has always been a long-held ambition and all we want to do is win on Saturday.

"After that we will make a decision on whether she goes for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival in March.

"It totally depends on how she performs in the Cleeve Hurdle, if she didn't run well for whatever reason she would go off to stud straight away to be covered."

Other intended runners include Barton and Mister Banjo.

And French trainer Guillaume Macaire, who also has Chepstow winner Jair du Cochet in the Wragge & Co Finesse Hurdle at the same meeting, is set to run Grivery in the extended 21-furlong race.

The five-year-old scored at Enghien in October on his latest appearance.

Macaire said today: "Providing everything goes well with them this week they will both run."

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