Chaos keeps up tradition

Memories of the brilliant Desert Orchid were rekindled as his nephew, Chaos Theory, trotted up at Huntingdon yesterday. The promising youngster, trained by Mary Reveley, indicated that he has inherited plenty of family ability as he slaughtered 16 rivals in the EBF Novices' Hurdle.

Moving smoothly into the lead on the bridle in the home straight under Tony Ross, he was seven lengths clear of One Nation at the line. Chaos Theory is probably the best horse to run in Richard Burridge's colours since Desert Orchid retired after a fall in the 1991 King George VI Chase.

Zafarabad put himself back in serious reckoning for the Cheltenham Festival. Fitted with blinkers for the first time, the grey showed much more sparkle than of late to secure a comfortable victory in the Bertie Masters Memorial Novices' Chase over Paris Pike.

The victory prompted Coral to cut Zafarabad to 20 to 1 (from 40s) for the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham. Zafarabad will have his credentials tested further when he tackles the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot next month.

Reveley and Ross clinched a double as Foundry Lane easily justified odds of 8 to 11 in the March Handicap Chase.

Star Traveller was yesterday the subject of a £1,500 each-way cash bet at 33 to 1 with Coral for the Martell Grand National. The customer placed the bet in a betting shop in Middlesex and stands to win over £60,000 if Henry Daly's charge is successful on April 8th. Yesterday's Thyestes Chase winner Micko's Dream was cut from 33 to 1 to 20 to 1 and there was good support for another Irish entry, Buck Rogers (25 to 1).

Coral bet: 14-1 Fiddling The Facts, 16-1 Edmond (from 14-1), Young Kenny, 20-1 Micko's Dream (from 33-1), Star Traveller (from 33-1), The Grey Monk, Earthmover, Bobbyjo, 25-1 Buck Rogers, Betty's Boy, Call It A Day, Feels Like Gold, Him Of Praise, Courlis Pontet, 33-1 bar.

Adrian Maguire is set to renew his association with leading fancy Village King in the Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase when he returns to action at Doncaster tomorrow. The Meathman was very sore after a fall at Ascot on Friday and missed his rides at Haydock Park the following afternoon. He is currently sitting out a five-day suspension which ends today.

Ladbrokes bet: 2-1 Brother Of Iris, 5-1 Village King, 6-1 Strong Tel, 12-1 Bengers Moor, 14-1 Sweet Lord, 16-1 Bitofamixup, Fullopep, Jocks Cross, Niki Dee, Speaker Weatherill, 20-1 bar.