Cheltenham Friday Preview - 12/11/21

A competitive affair to kick start proceedings however our vote of confidence goes to Art Approval who represents the in-form Fergal O'Brien stable.

Liam Harrison has more than proven himself solid value for his claim this season, boasting a 22% strike rate when teaming up with O'Brien; the pair have finished 1st or 2nd in 48% of their rides this season (35 - 74), an impressive statistic.

Art Approval marked his seasonal re-appearance last time out with a keeping on 4th here at Cheltenham over 2m 4f in a competitive affair against the likes of Guard Your Dreams (145) and Coole Cody (138).

That run was the perfect prep ahead of todays affair, and he now steps up in trip once more to 2m 5f, raced upon forecasted similar conditions.

A mark of 120 looks more than attainable here, with a further 3lbs offset by Liam Harrison in the saddle.

The son of Authorized is entitled to progress once more here with that returning run under his belt and he should also relish the slightly longer trip.

Sam Thomas doesn't send many to Cheltenham however boasts a strong record of being 2 wins from 3 runs at the track across the last 5 seasons; 1 from 1 in 2021.

The trainer brings forth Stolen Silver who remains relatively lightly raced in the chasing sphere after just 4 runs over the larger obstacles.

The 6yo gelding is very much open to further progressions, especially after his impressive seasonal re-appearance last time out at Market Rasen, easily landing a 3 runner affair in good style.

It was a careers best for the runner, awarded an RPR of 143 which off Stolen Silvers recalculated mark of 140 still leaves him with a fair bit of wiggle room; particularly as we should now expect the runner to kick on from that run an improve further second run back.

The drop back of a furlong in trip should not inconvenience the runner here who will once again relish the forecasted good ground.

Fanzio produced a careers best run on his penultimate start at Perth in April, landing a 2 mile contest upon good ground by an easy 11 length margin.

He was subsequently switched back to hurdling next time out however and was unable to replicate his chasing success despite going off a backed favourite for the contest.

The son of Day Flight now marks his return from a 6 month break with a run here and race fitness will need to be taken on trust, however if running up to his 143 RPR recorded on his last effort chasing, for the switch back to the larger obstacles, he looks to be well in here off a mark of 138, offset a further 5lbs by Lily Pinchin's claim.

Conditions look sure to suit and he can outrun his odds here.

It would be easy to back My Drogo here who holds compelling claims at becoming a star chaser this season, however at such short odds on chase debut there appears to be plenty value in opposing him, especially with Gin On Lime.

Gin On Lime has already proven herself a top chaser, winning 4 of her 5 starts in 2021.

She returned from a 3 month break last time out to land a Grade 3 Novice Chase at Tipperary, showing attributes sure to be well suited to Cheltenham; travelling strongly from the front before going an eased down 12 lengths clear.

The in-form, Cheltenham festival star, Rachael Blackmore takes over in the saddle and Gin On Lime can really look to test My Drogo here who may just falter under such pressures first time over the larger obstacles.

Freewheelin Dylan makes the journey across the Irish Sea for connections to be competitive here in the Cross Country handicap chase.

The son of Curtain Time has very much proven himself an out and out stayer over these testing 3 mile+ trips, winning the 3m 5f Irish Grand National Chase at Fairyhouse in April upon good to soft ground.

He's been raised 10lbs in the handicap since that win, however has proved himself competitive off this kind of mark with a 4th placed finish at Punchestown over 3m 7f and latterly a 6th placed finish over an insufficient 3m 1f last time out at Kilbeggan.

Connections clearly feel their runner is weighted to run well here to send him over from Ireland and if continuing to run to the standard set on his last 3 efforts, he's more than entitled to be in the mix of things once more here.

Gelino Bello holds clear leading claims in the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle on the back of his impressive hurdles debut last time out at Aintree.

He travelled strongly that day, going easily before being shaken up to lead and stretch clear by a comfortable 6 length margin.

The son of Saint Des Saints remains completely unexposed over obstacles and should now progress once more here.

Track and trip both look destined to suit and another big run is to be expected given the ease of his last.

Michael Scudamore's Sashenka showed vast improvements on her return from a break last time out at Hereford.

She's been a fair performing flat horse across her career however made the switch to hurdles earlier this year.

The daughter of Maxios returned from a 6 month break a much better rounded proposition over obstacles, just held by a neck margin after travelling strongly throughout her 2 mile re-appearance run.

She was awarded an RPR of 120 for that effort, is entitled to improve further from it second time out, and runs here off an untouched mark of 116.

Looks weighted to run a big race once more.