Cheltenham Preview Friday
JUMPS RACING IS BACK FROM CHELTENHAM ON FRIDAY! Previews available for all 7 races on the card including main dangers to our selections.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
Cheltenham Preview Friday
1.55 Cheltenham Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2) 2m4f
2.30 Cheltenham squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase (Class 2) 2m
3.05 Cheltenham 888sport What’s Your Thinking Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2) 3m
3.40 Cheltenham 888sport Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m4f
4.15 Cheltenham Abu Dhabi Digital Exchange Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) 2m4f
4.50 Cheltenham Andy Stewart Memorial Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m1f
5.25 Cheltenham Foundation Developments Maiden Hurdle (Class 3) 2m1/2f
Cheltenham 1.55
Great to have Cheltenham back on Friday! Sadly it’s not the most exciting start with just the 4 runners heading to post. Worryingly that has been the story for the opening few weeks of the Jumps but the faster ground is being blamed. Hopefully we see things pick up over the next few weeks. CAMPROND is comfortably the one to beat here. He looked very promising bolting up in the Persian War at Chepstow earlier this month. He has a nice blend of speed and stamina and should be too good here.
Gordon Elliott saddles the danger Mars Harper. This horse won well at Downpatrick looking a strong staying type. This is tougher but he has potential so should make some sort of a race of it. All Clenched Up needs to brush up her jumping if she is to get competitive. Bannixtown Boy looks outclassed on all accounts.
Cheltenham 2.30
This is usually won by a chaser that goes on to bigger and better races as the season goes on and there could be a few in here. FIDELIO VALLIS gets the vote after winning 4 of his 6 chase starts with ease and his only two losses came over the longer trip. Back down to two miles after his seasonal debut he should strip fitter here and has to be the one to beat for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.
Third Time Lucki is the danger based on his hurdles form and is edging favouritism at the time of writing. If he could apply his hurdles form directly to fences he would win but he has to prove himself over these obstacles as well as his fitness on seasonal debut. Of the rest I would expect Any News to chase those two home.
Cheltenham 3.05
This is really competitive but I do think DRAGON BONES is going to run big. She has won all 4 completed starts over hurdles including springing a 40/1 upset on debut over timber at Doncaster. The only blemish on her record is when she unseated rider at Southwell. Bar that she has been pretty faultless and she has potential to do better again this season. This is quite a tough ask on reappearance but she is on the upgrade and might just be worth chancing against these.
Calagogo has won his last three over hurdles with headgear working well. This is tougher but he has to enter calculations. Grace A Vous Enki failed to live up to market expectation when second at Worcester but is entitled to come on for that and could be the danger. Bardenstown Lad still has potential and also has to be respected.
Cheltenham 3.40
There may only be 5 runners going to post for this but it is very competitive as you would expect for a Limited Handicap. FAIRVOIR for the Skeltons’ looks the one to beat with his form reading 1113114121121 which is simply incredible and he will add a few more 1s to that as the season goes on. He beat today’s rival Annual Invictus over fences on his seasonal reappearance and I expect him to see him off again even with the swing in the weights. He was good for more that day and will be better around Cheltenham.
Annual Invictus is still dangerous as he has fitness over some of the others rivals in the field and does get weight from the selection this time. He will need to run to his best hurdle form to win it but he could run Faivoir close. Back On The Lash is likeable and looks best of the rest.
Cheltenham 4.15
I’m sticking with top-weight GUARD YOUR DREAMS here for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies. This horse was last seen finishing third to the exciting Mr Drogo at Aintree and his form stacks up wherever you look. He won three times over hurdles last season and looks progressive. He won fresh last year too so he is sure to be fully tuned up for this and I can’t see how he doesn’t run a big race with the yard already amongst the winners. He is likely to be held up early before looking to pick them off up the hill.
Art Approval is chasing a hat-trick after impressing at Market Rasen and Exeter and even though this is tougher he should be suited by a stronger pace and could run well for Fergal O’Brien and Paddy Brennan. Captain Morgs is a tricky type but undoubtedly talented and he is off a fair mark so could also get competitive in a good race.
Cheltenham 4.50
Plenty of runners for this ultra-competitive handicap with the bookies going 5/1 the field at the time of writing. I am going to have two in this with my main chance being DEFUTURE IS BRIGHT who finished last season in good form in handicaps with a win at Fakenham and a close second in a good race at Haydock. Christian Williams was clever to give him a prep run in a race he had no chance in last time behind Bravemansgame and he should be primed for this now and go well off 114.
BERMEO won this last year but carries a lot more weight this time around. His form away from the track isn’t great but he thrives at Cheltenham and even though he is getting on a bit he could run a big race at a nice each way price. The danger is Debden Bank who has improved through handicaps winning his last 3 by wide margins and is well worth stepping up to this company going for his 4-timer. The favourite is Marquis Of Carabas who hasn’t run for 900 days so it is hard to know where he is at and he is not for us.
Cheltenham 5.25
A Maiden Hurdle to close out at Cheltenham on Friday and I’m keen on the chances of GO DANTE for Olly Murphy and Aidan Coleman. This son of Kayf Tara didn’t come cheap but suggested why to some extent dotting up by over 7 lengths on debut in a bumper at Wincanton. He is clearly an exciting horse to go hurdling with and connections will be hoping he can make a perfect start here. He won that bumper in a very good time so if he can transfer that over obstacles he must have a good chance.
John Locke looks the obvious danger for Dan Skelton. He did well on the Flat and shaped with promise when fourth in the Adonis at Kempton. He reportedly bled when filing the same position in a Grade 1 at Aintree last time but still has potential. I never really like backing a horse that has bled though and he has been a negative in the betting since the market has formed which is also offputting. Top Bandit with experience on side looks to be best of the rest.
Cheltenham Each Way Lucky 15
Some really competitive racing from Cheltenham on Friday so we’ve included an Each Way Lucky 15. Pays 270/1!
Cheltenham Each Way Lucky 15
Cheltenham 2.30 Fidelio Vallis
Cheltenham 3.05 Dragon Bones
Cheltenham 3.40 Faivoir
Cheltenham 4.15 Guard Your Dreams EYE CATCHER
Pays 270/1!