Fleming prepares for Cheltenham Festival debut

Alan Fleming is cautious as he prepares to saddle Starluck, his first Cheltenham Festival runner, in today's JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Starluck is one of the leading fancies for the four-year-old championship thanks to winning all his three starts over timber.

Fleming, in his rookie season as private trainer to Andrew Wates, refuses to get carried away by Starluck's obvious chances.

"The horse is very well. We're very happy with the preparation, everything has gone good. We'll see how good he is tomorrow," he said.

"The better the ground, the better it will suit us. He's done nothing wrong but he's got a few questions to answer.

"We're into the unknown really, but we have a top man on board and the horse is as right as we can have him. It's fingers crossed and we hope for the best."

Heading the market are Alan King's Walkon and Zaynar, trained by Nicky Henderson.

The two met at Newbury in December when Henderson's grey made a successful hurdling debut but also carrying 7lb less than King's juvenile. Zaynar maintained his unbeaten record over timber at Ascot but many were not impressed with his display that day, or in a racecourse gallop at Kempton.

Henderson has decided to apply some headgear in an attempt to help him travel better through the race.

"He will wear cheekpieces," said Henderson.

"He surprised me at Newbury a little but he was the same there as at Ascot. After his work at Kempton what I didn't want was everyone to tell me how badly he worked. He's not that sort of horse."

Walkon has gone unbeaten since the Newbury race, including success in the Grade One Finale Hurdle at Chepstow, and King is confident the grey will be in the shake-up.

"He's a horse I rate very highly and he's been very progressive," said the Wiltshire trainer.

"I think it's a very good Triumph, but he's sure to be there or thereabouts."

Willie Mullins is enjoying a fine Festival and he saddles Art Sleuth and Mourad in search of another Grade One prize.

"Art Sleuth won on terrible ground in Gowran the last day and I think he will improve a lot for the better ground in Cheltenham," said Mullins.

"Mourad beat Ebadiyan and Jumbo Rio first time out and then finished third behind those two at Leopardstown, so the form of the three of them all ties in together."

Oliver Brady has been in confident mood for some time about the chances of Ebadiyan.

"I think he has improved since his last run and the ground drying out will suit him nicely," Brady said.

"He's a horse who wants a bit of good ground and he's never got it yet."