Pipe excited by Dynaste

Dynaste: Hoping to emulate Grands Crus on Friday

Dynaste will attempt to follow the example set by his smart stablemate Grands Crus and make a winning debut over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.

Like Grands Crus, Dynaste had top form in staying hurdles, including when finishing second to the brilliant Big Buck's in January and he is reported to have taken to fences well at home and his trainer David Pipe is expecting a good effort from the six-year-old.

"He's in good form, he's schooled nicely. It's a hot race, but there aren't that many runners," said the Nicholashayne handler.

"It's a nice introduction for him. We're looking forward to it."

Fingal Bay was a top-class staying novice hurdler for the Philip Hobbs team last season and got off the mark over fences at Chepstow five weeks ago.

"I'm looking forward to it. It was nice he won the last day and hopefully he will run well again," said his rider Richard Johnson.

"He was good first time out and hopefully he well run very well again. He seems in good form."

Jonjo O'Neill expects Thehillofuisneach to show improvement from his chasing bow at Exeter last month, his first run since the Festival in March.

"He was a grand horse last year, won his hurdle races and surprised us how well he went and he looked an all right horse at the end of the day," said the Jackdaws Castle trainer.

"He ran and jumped well at Exeter until he got tired the last day. He'll be much better and fitter tomorrow and we hope he'll put up a good show."

Carlito Brigante won over the Cheltenham fences three weeks ago and his trainer Gordon Elliott is hoping the six-year-old's love of the track will stand him in good stead.

"The better the ground for him. It looks a very competitive race so if he can run a nice race and pick up a bit of prize-money we'd be delighted," said the Irish handler.

"He likes Cheltenham, so hopefully he'll go well."

A select field of five is completed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Unioniste.

The four-year-old French import made a winning British debut at Aintree last month.

Nicholls told www.betfair.com: "He won an ordinary beginners chase in Auteuil in the spring.

"We bought him then and he won a race at Aintree's October meeting when half the fences weren't jumped. The ones that were there he jumped brilliantly.

"After Friday we'll start to progress him in trip. He's a nice staying chaser for the future."