Cheltenham Friday Preview - 22/10/21

The first race of the season at Cheltenham is the Class 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and the horse we like the look of the five year old Camprond for the inform Philip Hobbs.

The French flat recruit has took to jumping well so far in his career, breaking his maiden at the third attempt back in March.

He took a major step forward when coming second in a deep handicap hurdle at the Aintree Grand National meeting before an impressive third in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

The gelding was kept busy over the summer and dropped back markedly in grade, winning a novice event with ease, which saw him then go off favourite for the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen but he couldn’t defy a mark of 134 and finished fourth.

A second at Stratford behind a progressive type saw him step up in trip last time out in the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle, where he bolted up by five lengths.

That was the best performance of his career and having enjoyed the trip last time out this looks right up his street.

Next up is the two mile Novices' Chase and the value seems to come from the Neil Mulholland trained Any News who should be bang on for this event after his recent prep run.

The six year old gelding was a smart hurdler earlier last term, but slightly lost his way when put into better company.

He got back to form at the end of last season when a better sixth in the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock behind some well handicapped horses.

Sent over fences this term the gelding made his seasonal debut at Warwick last month and having jumped and travelled well just got tired late on to finish a neck second in a nice event.

He should be much fitter for that run round and should go close with his handler being in smart form over the last month.

A very smart event on the card is the three mile Novices' Hurdle and Dragon Bones for Ian Williams seems to hold some of the leading form in the event.

Having one of her final runs as a novice in this event, she has been placed superbly before she steps into tougher company and it looks a perfect starting point.

A smart bumper runner, winning on debut and then finishing a superb fourth in a hot Listed event which saw all three horses ahead of her winning next time out.

She was stepped into hurdles company in March and put up one of her best runs when landing a Listed Novices' Hurdles event in taking style at Doncaster.

The mare unseated at Southwell when a heavy favourite for the event, but has since gone on to land a hat-trick of wins at Hexham, Worcester and Newton Abbot.

She has stepped up close to three miles and revelled in the extra trip and this looks a very winnable event.

The Class 3 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m4f is another decent event that sees some up and coming chasers and we are going with the Chris Gordon Trained Annual Invictus.

The six year old gelding was a very smart hurdler last term, finishing second on debut at Ascot before landing a hat-trick of wins at Lingfield and Plumpton.

He signed off last term with a superb fourth in the Grade Three Betfair Hurdle behind the likes of Soaring Glory, Fifty Ball and Edwardstone.

Sent chasing this term by Gordon, he made his seasonal debut in a Novices' Chase at Uttoxeter where he finished a 2 1/2 length second behind reopposing rival Faivoir.

They ran off levels that day but at Cheltenham on Friday he is receiving 8lb and that could be the difference four our selection.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the 2m4f Exchange Handicap Hurdle and Art Approval for Fergal O'Brien should not be far away.

The five year old gelding goes for a top yard that have been churning out winners all throughout the season and this son of Authorized enters the contest seeking a hat-trick.

Coming from the flat and making his hurdles debut in August, he finished second at Market Rasen and then backed that up with another good second over two miles at Cheltenham behind Faivoir.

He then went back to Prestbury Park and finished aclose up seventh in a big fielded competitive handicap hurdle.

Given a break until January, he returned in winning form, landing a nice event up in trip at Market Rasen and then backed that up at Exeter in April with another good win.

Has performed well fresh before and looks a leading contender in search of hat-trick and having form at the track.

The final event of the afternoon is the Maiden Hurdle over two miles and the ex John Gosden trained horse John Locke could take all the beating.

The gelding was a smart runner on the flat for a top yard, but was sold and given to Dan Skelton and was chucked straight into the deep end when running in the Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle.

He finished a fair fourth behind Tritonic in that event and was then sent at Aintree in the Grade One Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle and again finished fourth.

Again that was behind some top class talent and he holds leading form heading into this weak event.