Cheltenham Friday Preview - 23/10/20

The first race of the of the season at Prestbury Park is the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle over 2 miles 5 furlongs and Paul Nicholls looks to have a strong hand in the race.

The trainer has made a superb start to the season and will be looking to add to that at this meeting with Ask For Glory in the first.

The six year old joined the yard back in 2018 off the back of landing a decent point to point and on his first start in a bumper at Chepstow, he got off the mark in fine style.

Off the back of just one run for the yard he was put into the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and finished ninth of 14, running behind some top class horses.

He was next seen in November for the new season and stepping up to his first time over hurdles he was a fair fourth of 16 running behind stars like Son Of Camas and King Roland.

Like the others he franked the form of that maiden by getting off the mark at Wincanton in February and that was the last time he was seen on a racecourse.

This race looks a stepping stone to bigger things this term.

Next up is the Class 2 Novices' Chase over three miles and some familiar faces take to the field and the one we are siding with is the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Mossy Fen.

The five year old last term was a smart prospect over hurdles winning three of his five events including in the Grade Two Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick.

He ran a solid race at the festival on his final start finishing fifth behind Envoi Allen in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and off the back of that he brings plenty of potential on his chasing debut.

A big fielded Handicap Hurdle sees 20 runners head to post over 2 miles 5 furlong and with that in mind we have two chances at each way prices in the race.

The first runner for us is the Richard Rowe trained Up The Straight, who won two of his four races in novice company last year and showed progression on his only start this term.

Having won nicely at Kempton at Lingfield last season, he stepped up to handicap company on his seasonal debut where he finished a fair fourth at Fontwell in what was a better event that than this.

He drops to a Class 3 for this event and if building off the back of his first run should give a bold showing.

At a similar price for Nicky Henderson is Fix Sun, who has done little wrong in his career to date and looks one of the more likelier candidates to go close in this contest.

The five year old owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede has raced three times under the master trainer, winning twice and placing on his last start.

Having won a weak event at Sedgefield, he gave a better performance at Market Rasen, before being narrowly beaten in February at Fakenham.

Off the back of that defeat the gelding had wind surgery and now being sent into handicap company makes him one of the more unexposed horses in the field that should go well.

The Class 2 Handicap Chase over two miles sees a classy field go to post and the horse that takes the eye is Scardura for Neil Mulholland, getting heaps of weight off the rest of the field.

The six year old has been seen three times this season, placing nicely on seasonal debut, before unfortunately unseating at Perth.

He put things right last time out though at Newton Abbott when scoring for the first time this season and although this is tougher, his low weight snd progressive nature should stand him in good stead.

A decent field of youngsters head to post for the two mile maiden hurdle and Pipesmoker for Nicky Henderson, looks a potential star in the making.

The five year old has been seen three times in his career, starting in a bumper in May 2019 where he finished a good second at Huntingdon.

He stepped up to hurdles off the back of that and placed on his debut outing behind stablemate Chantry House and Grade Two winner Stolen Silver.

The last time the gelding was seen was at Ascot where again he finished in behind a smart runner called Sporting John and the form of all three of his runs to date sets the precedent in this event.

The penultimate event of the day at Prestbury Park sees a small fielded Novices' Chase that what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in talent.

The Nicky Henderson trained Fussil Raffles set the standard in this event having been a superb hurdler landing the Grade One Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown to seasons back.

Last season the son of Saint Des Saints was hit and miss but still managed to land the Grade Two Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Now chasing he will look to get back to winning ways having disappointed in some Grade One contests last year and he did that straight away on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter when winning well.

He jumped lovely and beat a decent field of runners that are sure to do well this season and if improving for that experience should be tough to beat.

The final runner of the day comes in the Conditional Jockey's Handicap Hurdle over two miles and at a double figure price One True King looks very interesting.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies owned gelding was handy in bumpers last year winning at Ludlow and then finishing slightly better than midfield in the Champion Bumper over course and distance.

Stepping up to hurdles this term he has made a positive start, finishing third on debut at Stratford and then coming on for that run at Uttoxeter to break his maiden.

There is no reason why the son of Getaway can't improve again at a track he already has experience running on.