ITV Preview Cheltenham Friday - 17/11/23

Things seem to have clicked for this handicap hurdler recently with a winning return over timber at Warwick over 2.5 miles before finding a race over 3 miles stretching his stamina too much.

Turned up at the meeting at Cheltenham in October at a big price for a 2.5 mile handicap hurdle which he readily bolted up in off a mark of 112. The handicapper has responded with a raise of 5lbs however with this being a claiming jockey event a 10lbs claimer can take over in the saddle.

Favourite for this White Rhino beat the selection last season when in receipt of a stone, off level weights they'll likely to be closer today and Pinnacle Peak arrives in top form.

An improving handicap chaser last season for Joe Tizzard, Triple Trade won over 20 furlongs and 18 furlongs last season over fences climbing from a rating of 115 to 129 in the process.

Making a return this season over 2 miles here at Cheltenham, he ran well over what seems to be a slightly inadequate trip to be 2nd behind the classy Dancing On My Own who's a previous big handicap winner.

Only put up 1lbs for that effort, he looks to have a decent pace to aim at here and only found one classy rival too good last time. Likely to go close again.

A good chunk of the market is being taken up by JPR One who was impressive enough on chasing debut to beat a well fancied rival who didn't fire, however he is rated 9lbs inferior to Mighty Tom.

The Irish raider went close in a Grade 3 event on chase debut at Cork over 2.5 miles and although he was well beaten by the eventual winner it looks the strongest piece of chase form on offer.

Mighty Tom's best form as a hurdler came over 2 miles scoring a listed handicap hurdle, so dropping back in trip will likely draw out even more improvement.

A classy operator for Gordon Elliott who won a Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival before becoming a fantastic Grade One winning Chaser, Delta Work has become an equally good X-Country horse in his later career.

Breaking hearts when just getting the better of stablemate Tiger Roll at the Cheltenham Festival a couple of years ago, he backed that form up when winning the event again last season, seeing off Galvin.

He's had a decent prep run in a Grade 3 event and although carrying a hefty weight, represents the class in the field and is more than good enough to give these a beating.

A specialist over these fences, Diesel D'Allier has been consistent over the X-Country course here at Cheltenham over the years, winning twice and coming in the top Four a further three times.

He came a close 3rd in this race in 2021 before going on to win the corresponding race in December of the same year. An interrupted season last year saw him go quite poorly in a handicap in January before running a stormer at a big price to be 4th at the Cheltenham Festival around this course.

A recent pipe-opener over hurdles will have him spot on for this and he's carrying a featherweight with Delta Work and Galvin at the head of the weights. Can hit the frame for those looking for an each way alternative.

A Point To Point winner back in February of 2022, Captain Teague was then picked up and sent for training under rules with Paul Nicholls.

Winning on rules debut in a bumper, he was then sent for the Champion Bumper the Cheltenham Festival where he finished a very respectable 3rd place at a big price.

Connections clearly having maximum faith in him, he was then sent for the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle for his first outing over timber and duly showed his class to win with bundles in hand. If running to that same level he'll be hard to beat here and will likely take his second Grade Two race over obstacles.

Nicky Henderson sends the interesting looking Impose Toi here who's career under rules hasn't seem him finish outside the top 2 yet.

Winning both his bumpers and then scoring in a maiden on the 2nd attempt, he looked likely to score his second win over timber but bumped into the classy looking Brentford Hope who's franked the form since with a wide margin victory this season.

Impose Toi returned to racing this season in a novice hurdle over 2.5 miles where he duly bolted up against some average looking rivals. Clearly a a cut above the rest, he's only earned a handicap mark of 121 for that and will likely prove to be much better than that.

Shoulders top weight but likely to be a cut above the rest.