Murphy reports all systems go for Zaarito

COLM MURPHY has confirmed his exciting bumper horse Zaarito is an intended Cheltenham starter as the Wexford-based trainer pursues a third festival success.

Victories for Brave Inca in the 2006 Champion Hurdle and the 2004 Supreme Novices Hurdle confirmed Murphy's Cheltenham pedigree, and Zaarito is as low as a 3 to 1 favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

"It is all systems go for Cheltenham," Murphy reported. "We've been delighted with how he has come out of his last race and I think he goes there with a favourite's chance. With a clear run he should have a good chance."

Zaarito is unbeaten in three starts to date, and will be looking for a form boost from Our Matti, who was runner-up to him at Navan last month, when that horse runs at Leopardstown tomorrow.

"Zaarito will be one of the most experienced in the race on the back of three runs, and he ran in two big fields in the summer when he won at Kilbeggan and Tipperary. It's hard to equate how good he is but he has done everything right so far," Murphy added.

The 2006 festival bumper winner Hairy Molly appears in the Beginners' Chase at Navan today, and there should be significant improvement in Joe Crowley's horse after a run behind Four Chimneys at Gowran.

The highly promising Let Yourself Go will be worth a look in the second maiden hurdle, but a more interesting betting race could be the novice chase.

The former Pierse Hurdle winner Studmaster and the former Irish National runner-up Oulart haven't been setting the world on fire recently, nor has the Grade One-placed Be My Leader.

In the circumstances, Notable d'Estruval, who ran third to Mister Top Notch in the Leopardstown Chase, should be hard to beat.

Time Electric, a long-time favourite for the Cheltenham bumper, instead begins on the road to Punchestown in today's final event. Anything but a win for Tom Mullins's six-year-old would be a major surprise.