URBAN HYMN, the apple of Malcolm Jefferson's eye, makes the journey from his trainer's Norton yard to Cheltenham today in a bid to chalk-up his first win over fences.

A useful hurdler last season when he won a Grade 2 event at Doncaster in January, the strapping gelding has always looked liked a potential chaser. He made his debut over fences at Carlisle last month and failed in a photo-finish to beat the equally smart Duke Of Navan.

That race was over two miles, an absolute minimum for Urban Hymn, who will be much better suited by today's step up to two and a half miles.

It does, however, promise to be a demanding challenge. The Steel Plate & Sections Novices' Chase has attracted a high-quality field and if Urban Hymn can come out on top under Brian Hughes he will take a giant leap forward at this early stage of his new discipline.

The opening day of Cheltenham's excellent three-day meeting is highlighted by the £30,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices;' Hurdle, which promises to be a fascinating contest.

The booking of Ruby Walsh for Jonjo O'Neill's Champagne Present, who looked a horse to follow when narrowly beaten at Aintree last month, looks significant, but the four-year-old has a tough task against a few of these, including Blaklion, who won the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow three weeks ago. He looks very smart.

Nicky Henderson's power-packed team is starting to get into top gear and the Lambourn trainer has good prospects with Anquetta in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase.

The ten-year-old looked in good nick when narrowly beaten on his comeback run after a summer break at Stratford. A bold bid is expected this afternoon.

Henderson's Oscar Time will also be a popular choice among punters in the opening Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase.

Although in the twilight of his career, the teenage gelding enjoyed a great time of things last season.

Philip Hobbs also has useful double prospects. The Minehead trainer can score with cross-country chase specialist Balthazar King (3.35), winner of this race last year and runner-up in the Grand National at Aintree in April, and the progressive River Deep (4.05), winner of both his races this term.

At Newcastle, Norton trainer John Quinn can continue his successful run with Things Change in the Newcastle Flooring Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

Never out of the first four in his four races over hurdles, and a winner at Cartmel, Things Change now switches to fences. He has the right profile to make a successful chaser and has the right jockey, James Reveley, in the saddle. He carries the nap vote.

Seldom Inn can prove the answer to the opening ITPS Novices' Hurdle.

The six-year-old, who won his bumper here last season, looked a smart hurdler in the making when winning by eight lengths at Kelso four weeks ago. He has a penalty to carry here, against some interesting newcomers, but he will be a tough nut to crack.

David Pipe sends Moloon the long journey to the North East from his West Country base and the hint should be taken.

The gelding won his only race in a bumper last season and promises to develop into a successful hurdler.

Nicky Richards has his horses in excellent heart and seems to have a useful bunch of youngsters under his care.

The Greystoke trainer introduces Western Rules in the STP Constuction Maiden National Hunt Flat Race and the four-year-old is selected to clinch the spoils in a race Richards won twelve months ago with Chidswell, who is now making his mark as a hurdler.

Selections

Cheltenham today
1.15 Oscar Time, 1.50 Anquetta, 2.25 Urban Hymn, 3.00 Blaklion, 3.35 Balthazar King, 4.05 River Deep.

Newcastle today
12.05 Seldom Inn, 12.35 Things Change (NAP), 1.05 Molo, 1.40 Montoya’s Son, 2.15
Itstimeforapint, 2.50 Bertie Milan, 3.25 Western Rules.

Today’s other meetings: Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Cheltenham, Wetherby, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.