Who To Follow At Cheltenham On Friday - 21/10/22

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Wed 19 Oct 2022 14.51

Cheltenham 14:20

Hang In There

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

N/A

Age: 8

Weight: 11-10

OR: 143

Days: 25

A nice event on the afternoon is the Limited Handicap Chase over 2m4f and serial winner Hang In There looks very tough to stop at the moment.

During the summer this season the Emma Lavelle trained gelding ran over 2m1/f at Newton Abbot and the trip was too short for him and he could only manage second behind Wild Max.

Since then he has gone unbeaten on his last four events, winning over 2m4f and 2m5f at Uttoxeter, Worcester, Market Rasen and Newton Abbot by a combined distance of 108 lengths all on good ground.

Looking to make it five in a row he goes into handicap company for the first time and off a mark of 143 should go well again.

Form: 21111View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
22/04/23	AYR	20.5	Gd	11-7	4
05/11/22	WCN	20	GF	11-4	1
21/10/22	CHL	20	Gd	11-10	PU
26/09/22	NAB	21	Gd	12-0	1
16/07/22	MAR	21.5	Gd	12-0	1

Gordon Elliott sends a strong team to Prestbury Park on Friday and that makes him the man to follow across the afternoon.

In the opener Duffle Coat returns to the scene of his Grade Two Juvenile Hurdle win ahead of Adagio in 2020, and he has not been seen winning since then.

In the Novices' Chase Ash Tree Meadow drops back to two miles and looks to have a big chance and then in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle smart bumper horse Music Drive should go close.

Tullybeg is not without a chance in the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase and then in the Maiden Hurdle An Mhi could turn out to be anything.

Paddy Brennan has been in some serious form already this season and heads into Friday's meeting currently running at a 50% strike rate for the last two weeks, managing six wins from 12 rides.

Brennan's first ride of the afternoon comes on the Fergal O'Brien trained Byzantine Empire who has been in consistent form of late and is definitely not ruled out.

In the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Pull Again Green has won three of his last four events and will be looking to go close again, but this is tougher.

Onagatheringstorm is having his first win since a wind operation in the 2m4f handicap hurdle and then in the finale, Hullnback was a superb second in the Grade Two bumper at the Grand National meeting last term and he looks his best ride of the day in the Maiden Hurdle.