Tyson delivers a knockout

Paul Beck is dreaming of Cheltenham Gold Cup glory with Tyson somewhere down

the line after he knocked out his rivals for a perfect result in the Andrew

Flintoff Benefit Novices' Hurdle at Haydock.

A Group-class performer on the level in his native South Africa, he took to

the winter game in great style to beat the odds-on favourite Polinamix at 7-2

and a crack at this year's Festival meeting has not been ruled out.

The seven-year-old is in training with Venetia Williams and was partnered by

Paul O'Neill, who did well to stay in the saddle following a bad blunder at the

final flight.

"We'll need to speak to Venetia before we nominate a race at Cheltenham, but

he would have to sharpen up his jumping," said Beck, who manages England

cricket ace Flintoff and owns the horse in partnership with golfers Lee Westwood

and Darren Clarke.

"He's got guts though because he will have never seen ground as bad as that

before. I just think Aintree could suit him more.

"Venetia has said from day one that he is a three and a half mile chaser so

I'm hoping I'll be dreaming of the biggest prize of them all in a couple of

years.

"If he can get it all together we have a serious horse on our hands."

Punters could have been forgiven for thinking they were in a time warp as both

King Bee and Cobreces repeated their victories from the corresponding card of 12

months ago.

King Bee (15-8 favourite) won the Romania Off Plan Handicap Chase for local

businessman Trevor Hemmings and trainer Henry Daly was pleased to supply the

owner of Blackpool Tower with a winner at his favourite track.

"That was the plan," beamed Daly. "He's a proper handicap chaser, he loves

soft ground, he likes it here at Haydock and we shall continue to look for these

types of races."

He was partnered by Richard Johnson, who had a short-priced double when Mister

Potter (4-7 favourite) won his second Red Square Vodka "Fixed Brush" Novices'

Hurdle.

He may come back for the final of the series in April, while the Coral Cup is

also a possibility.

Cobreces won the Asda Tickled Pink Team Walrus Hunters' Chase, with 10-11

favourite Le Passing, from the Paul Nicholls stable, disappointing in fourth.

However, winning jockey Jamie Snowden was handed a two-day ban (days to be

confirmed) for excessive use of the whip.

One Gulp (15-2) ran out an impressive 14-length winner of the Mares' Only

Bumper for Paul Webber, while Auntie Kathleen (20-1) scored for the first time

under Rules for John Quinn and Dougie Costello.

It was a 25th success of the season for 3lb claimer Costello.