MANY may have written off Moscow Flyer’s chances of a third Queen Mother Champion Chase here today, but his trainer Jessica Harrington was last night drawing a lot of comfort from the performance in the Champion Hurdle of Macs Joy.

Zaiyad, a surprise inclusion in the 21 declarations for tomorrow’s Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, will miss the race after being left in through an administrative errr.

Herve Barjot, racing manager to Irish owner Sean Mulryan, believes Zaiyad holds a live chance of notching up a first victory at the Cheltenham Festival for the property tycoon.

Denman and Black Jack Ketchum lead a strong entry of 138 in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.