Dickin upbeat over Festival chances

Robin Dickin couldn't be happier with his two intended Cheltenham Festival runners next week.

Thomas Crapper is set to line-up in the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices' Handicap Chase on the concluding race on the opening day at Prestbury Park.

The eight-year-old, who finished runner-up in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle last year at the Festival, has twice won around Prestbury Park and will be ridden by Charlie Poste.

Garrahalish, who has already won twice since going novice chasing (Ascot and Towcester) is set to run in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase on Thursday (day three).

Dickin told www.cdhorseracingtours.com: "Both Thomas Crapper and Garrahalish have both come out of their respective races really well.

"I am a strong follower of Timeform and they are both well rated by them. I'm 99.9 per cent sure that Garrahalish will get in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir and will be ridden by John Mathias. Last time at Cheltenham they went a crazy brake-neck pace and it just didn't suit.

He added: "Thomas Crapper is a twice course-and-distance winner around Cheltenham, I might well consider leaving him in the Martin Pipe (Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle) race, just in case for some reason he is brought down early in the race.

He concluded: "Both Thomas Crapper and Garrahalish will turn into the home straight and be in with a shout."