Succesful return for Cyfor

Forgotten horse Cyfor Malta staked his claim for top honours with an impressive comeback success at Newbury today.

The eight-year-old returned from an injury-enforced 308-day absence from the racecourse to take the ladbrokes.com Handicap Chase.

He defeated well-backed favourite Young Devereaux by one and a half lengths, having briefly looked as if he would be in trouble when making a bad mistake five from home and coming off the bridle.

But Tony McCoy is not champion jockey for nothing and he secured the race at the final fence when getting a fine jump out of his mount.

Before picking up a leg injury which restricted his appearances to just one in the last three seasons, Cyfor Malta had looked set to take high rank among Britain`s best chasers.

And winning trainer Martin Pipe was clearly delighted to have got his charge back on the track and fit enough to do the business at 3-1.

'We fancied him today,' he smiled. 'I was worried when we were saddling him up but he hadto run here. The handicapper gave him the chance to run and I wanted to take it.

'There was always a worry that he wouldn`t come back but this was great - he kept trying, he jumped well and I`m just delighted.

'This was his race and he can only come on from here. Provided he is okay we will have to look at the Pillar Chase.'

Cyfor Malta is now as short as 14-1 for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, although Ladbrokes offer 20s.

Pipe completed a treble when Exit Swinger took the TFMCyntergy Handicap Chase and Ideal du Rose Beury made a winning British bow in the Cantor Sport Novices` Hurdle.

While Cyfor Malta was back winning, First Gold proved a major disappointment in the cahoot Long Distance Hurdle.

Francois Doumen`s charge was expected to be fit enough to do himself justice in his first appearance of the season.

But the eight-year-old, who was well backed to go off the 4-5 favourite never looked to be quite putting it all in and finished third, the race going to theTom George-trained Historic.

The 10-1 winner turned in a brave front running performance to hold the challenge of Spendid by half a length with First Gold a further length and a quarter back.

George was at Haydock, where the stable saddled another winner with Native Buck, but his wife Sophie was clearly delighted with the success.

'He was bought at the July sales last year and since the moment we first schooled him, Tom has been mad on him,' she said.

'He is a very laid-back horse with all the stamina in the world and hopefully he will be a Stayers` Hurdle horse.

'There is the Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of the month for him or the Long Walk at Ascot but I think we would rather meet Baracouda later in the season.

'Tom thinks there aren`t many better staying hurdlers than him out there.'

Warren Marston, who rode Spendid into second, collected a one-day ban for excessive use of the whip.

First Gold was eased out a point from 5-1 to 6-1 with Paddy Power for the Gold Cup. He now shares favouritism with Irish hope Sackville.

Coral cut both Historic and Spendid to 16-1 for the Stayers` Hurdle. Doumen was clearly disappointed with First Gold`s performance.

'Last year he did this on his first run but he was fitter here and there is less excuse,' the trainer said.

'He just wasn`t properly motivated here, the second race he has done this, but for me it`s not a big deal. Maybe punters will need to bear it in mind.

'There is no sign of anything wrong, he just didn`t run up to his best.'

The eight-year-old is 13-8 with Coral for his repeat bid in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Mick Fitzgerald, forced to miss the meeting when a suspension appeal failed at Portman Square this week, was away playing golf back home in Ireland today.

But Nicky Henderson`s stable jockey missed out on two winners that he would have partnered, with Norman Williamson coming in for the rides on Katarino and Got One Too.

Katarino showed no signs of the breathing problems that have plagued him since he won the 1999 Triumph Hurdle as he easily landed the Daily Telegraph Fulke Walwyn Novices` Chase.

He is now expected to head for the Feltham Novices` Chase at Kempton on the Boxing Day card.

Got One Too made all the running to win the Flightworks Gerry Fielden Hurdle.

'Poor old Mick, I do feel for him,' said Henderson. 'He gave Norman the instructions before he went off to play golf.

'We were a bit slow earlier in the season and now the good horses are starting to come out he misses out.'