Day One of the Christmas Meeting at Cheltenham looks a cracker on Friday, with seven races to get stuck into.
GG editor Steve Chambers runs through the full card, giving his selections for all seven races on the card, including a confident pick in the opener to get started.
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12.05pm – British EBF “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle (Class 3)
You couldn’t have been more impressed with DYSART ENOS on hurdling debut as she quickened nicely away from the last flight to start off her career over jumps at Huntingdon with a win. The unbeaten Aintree Grade 2 Mares’ bumper winner will line up at Cheltenham for the first time on Friday and she will take on some exciting novice hurdlers in the 12:05 race, but she’s certainly the one with most potential at the moment and can make it five wins from five for Fergal O’Brien.
12.40pm – Cheltenham & South-West Racing Club Novices’ Chase (Class 2)
A cracking six-runner novice chase is second on the card and while Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny are interesting contenders the one to side with is Kim Bailey’s TRELAWNE. A smart hurdler, he made an impressive debut over fences when winning at Carlisle and the seven-year-old can kick on and claim victory here. The seven-year-old has winning form over three miles over hurdles and this could all be about stamina in the closing stages and he can outbattle his rivals and make it two from two over fences.
1.15pm – Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
Nicky Henderson’s Doddiethegreat certainly looks an exciting prospect for Seven Barrows and he is one to watch here, but there’s a nice improving novice hurdler for Paul Nicholls taking his chance here and that is PANJARI. The five-year-old grabbed his first success over timber at the third time of asking last month at Taunton, but he pulled well clear of his rivals there and he could be one that continues to progress as the season goes on and he could well take this prize.
1.50pm – Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
A hugely competitive mares’ handicap chase takes place at 13:50, but it’s the Tom Symonds-trained ROYALE MARGAUX that can land the spoils. She’s a regular at Cheltenham and back in April chased home Pink Legend, who finished third in the Mares’ Chase at the festival. The five-year-old found it tough against the boys back here in November, but she’s been eased 3lbs and she looks more than capable of landing a blow against her own sex and she can land this victory with aplomb.
2.25pm – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veteran’s Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Kerry Lee’s STORM CONTROL returns to the track after nearly a year off, but the ten-year-old looks really well handicapped off a mark of 129 in a wide open veterans’ handicap chase at 14:25. A Grade 3 winner at Cheltenham a few seasons ago off a mark of 137, the front-runner could put plenty of these to the sword by setting a decent gallop and while fitness could be a slight worry he’s a real classy staying chaser and he could prove to be a cut above his rivals here.
3.00pm – Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Making his second start of the season in Friday’s fascinating Cross Country Handicap Chase, Gordon Elliott’s GALVIN should strip fitter for a disappointing display at Cheltenham’s November meeting. Tiring in the closing stages the former Cheltenham Festival winner could only finish 8th, but the handicapper has been generous to drop him 3lbs for that run, so a mark of 157 looks workable. Alongside Minella Indo and Fury Road he will need to give significant weight away to his rivals, but Galvin is one of the class acts in the field and his experience can see him get back in the winner’s enclosure at Prestbury Park.
3.35pm – Citipost Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A facile seven-length winner of this race 12 months ago, CAPTAIN MORGS can deliver a similar story in the final race on Friday as the Nicky Henderson-trained raider is only 3lbs higher and he looks more than capable of retaining the crown. Last seen over fences finishing second at Huntingdon, he will relish the return to the hurdling sphere and if he can repeat last year’s display then he can bag the competitive finale for the Seven Barrows team.
Cheltenham Through-The-Card Tips
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